DUDLEY, Mass. – The top-seeded Nichols College women's tennis team won its first-ever Commonwealth Conference Championship Saturday afternoon, defeating second-seeded Roger Williams, 5-0, at the Francis W. Robinson Courts.

The Bison finish their fall campaign with a 16-1 record, tying the program's record for most wins in a season and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament in the spring. The berth to the national tournament marks the first in program history and the fourth for any Nichols College team.

TCCC Player and Rookie of the Year Anna Dyakiv (Amsterdam, N.Y.) clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-2 win at top singles, setting the Bison's single-season record for singles wins, finishing out the fall at 16-0. Her doubles partner, senior Maria Balabanova (Moscow, Russia)  put the Bison within striking distance with a quick 6-1, 6-2 victory at the fifth singles flight to also finish the season undefeated at 15-0.

The Bison led, 3-0, after doubles play, getting their last point from Dyakiv and Balabanova at the second flight. The pair battled against the Hawks' Tracy Klein (New City, N.Y.) and Amanda Wolfe (Mansfield, Mass.), finally prevailing for an 8-5 win, their record 16th of the season.

Chelsey Miller (Salem, Conn.) and Jillian McQuiggan (Weymouth, Mass.) pulled an 8-6 win at the top doubles flight over Leah Ribchinsky (Ivoryton, Conn.) and Samantha Curran (Cumberland, R.I.), while Alex Cifone (Bristol, Conn.) and Megan Woodruff (Morris, Conn.) finished the season undefeated with an 8-2 victory at the third flight over Caitlin Osepchuk (Ocean Grove, N.J.) and Alexandra Reilly (North Easton, Mass.).

Woodruff was close to clinching the match at sixth singles, 6-2, 5-2, but Libby Magner (Lakefield, Mass.) fought off four match points as Dyakiv finished at the top flight.

Roger Williams closes out the year with a 12-5 overall record after making its first appearance in the TCCC Championship since 2007. Nichols did not allow a point throughout the conference tournament, defeating all opponents by a score of 5-0.

- Release courtesy of the Nichols College Sports Information Department

Tennis Match Results

Roger Williams vs Nichols

10/23/10 at Dudley, Mass.

Nichols 5, Roger Williams 0

Singles competition:

1. Anna Dyakiv (NC) def. Samantha Curran (RWU) 6-1, 6-2

2. Jillian McQuiggan (NC) vs. Tracy Klein (RWU) 4-6, 5-3, unfinished

3. Alexandra Cifone (NC) vs. Leah Ribchinsky (RWU) 5-6, unfinished

4. Chelsey Miller (NC) vs. Amanda Wolfe (RWU) 7-6 (7-3), unfinished

5. Maria Balabanova (NC) def. Kristin Dono (RWU) 6-1, 6-2

6. Megan Woodruff (NC) vs. Libby Magner (RWU) 6-2, 5-2, unfinished

Doubles competition:

1. Chelsey Miller/Jillian McQuiggan (NC) def. Samantha Curran/Leah Ribchinsky (RWU) 8-6

2. Anna Dyakiv/Maria Balabanova (NC) def. Amanda Wolfe/Tracy Klein (RWU) 8-5

3. Megan Woodruff/Alexandra Cifone (NC) def. Alexandra Reilly/Caitlin Osepchuk (RWU) 8-2

Match Notes:

Roger Williams 12-5

Nichols 16-1

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,1)

The Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship

#1 Nichols vs. #2 Roger Williams

Nichols earns first-ever TCCC title and automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament

Official: Chris Feld  T-2:30  A-175