DUDLEY, Mass. – The Nichols College women's tennis team swept the singles side en route to an 8-1 victory over Roger Williams University in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference match at the Francis W. Robinson Courts Wednesday afternoon.

Nichols runs its season-long win streak to five, including a 4-0 mark in TCCC action, while the Hawks see a three-match win streak come to an end with a 3-2 overall record and a 3-1 ledger in conference play.

Roger Williams senior Leah Ribchinsky (Ivoryton, Conn.) and first year Samantha Curran (Cumberland, R.I.) swiftly got a point in favor of the visitors with an 8-2 victory at the top doubles spot. The Hawks looked as if they were on their way for a second at the second flight, but Bison senior Maria Balabanova (Moscow, Russia) and first year Anna Dyakiv (Amsterdam, N.Y.) fought back from a 5-0 deficit to take the point, 8-6. Nichols sophomores Alex Cifone (Bristol, Conn.) and Meg Woodruff (Morris, Conn.) put Nichols ahead, 2-1, with an 8-6 win at third doubles.

Woodruff and Balabanova posted quick wins at sixth and fifth singles, respectively, before Dyakiv clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-3 victory against  Curran at the top spot. Miller added a straight-sets win at fourth singles for a 6-1 lead, and sophomore Jillian McQuiggan (Weymouth, Mass.) converted on her 10th match point to win in the second set tiebreak over sophomore Tracy Klein (New City, N.Y.), 6-4, 7-6 (10-8). Cifone wrapped up the sweep at third singles, defeating Ribchinsky in a superset tiebreak, 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5).

Nichols hits the road for the next two TCCC matches, first at Gordon Saturday at noon. Roger Williams travels to Regis Saturday for a 1 p.m. conference match.

Tennis Match Results
Roger Williams vs Nichols
09/15/2010 at Dudley, Mass.
(Francis W. Robinson Courts)

Nichols 8, Roger Williams 1

Singles competition
1. Anna Dyakiv (NC) def. Samantha Curran (RWU) 6-1, 6-3
2. Jillian McQuiggan (NC) def. Tracy Klein (RWU) 6-4, 7-6 (10-8)
3. Alexandra Cifone (NC) def. Leah Ribchinsky (RWU) 4-6, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5)
4. Chelsey Miller (NC) def. Amanda Wolfe (RWU) 6-3, 6-3
5. Maria Balabanova (NC) def. Libby Magner (RWU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Megan Woodruff (NC) def. Kristin Dono (RWU) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Leah Ribchinsky/Samantha Curran (RWU) def. Jillian McQuiggan/Chelsey Miller (NC) 8-2
2. Anna Dyakiv/Maria Balabanova (NC) def. Tracy Klein/Amanda Wolfe (RWU) 8-6
3. Alexandra Cifone/Erin Rivers (NC) def. Olivia Hilton/Kristin Dono (RWU) 8-6