BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Heidi Martin (Scituate, Mass.) was a double-winner at number one singles and doubles to lead the Roger Williams University women's tennis team over host Simmons University, 8-1, in the season opener for both teams this afternoon on Daly Courts in Brighton, Mass. The Hawks improve to 1-0 on the season, while the Sharks fall to 0-1.
 
Martin teamed with junior Jessica Magliato (New Rochelle, N.Y.) for an 8-3 victory at number one doubles over the Simmons junior duo of Marissa Johnson (Norwell, Mass.) and Nickie Nguyen (Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam/St. Joseph Prep (Mass.). Martin cruised to a 6-2, 6-3 win at first singles over Nguyen to give Roger Williams an 8-0 lead.
 
Magliato was one of five double-winners on the day for the Hawks after completing a 6-1, 6-2 triumph at number three singles over Sharks senior Michelle Medici (South Portland, Maine) at third singles.
 
Sophomore Morgan Crimmins (Boston, Mass.) and first year Libby Bennett (Watertown, Mass.) put Roger Williams on the board with an 8-0 victory at third doubles over the Simmons first year tandem of Sabrina Brown (Mason, N.H.) and Sarah Mariski (Portland, Maine). Bennett did not drop a game on the day, earning a 6-0, 6-0 win at sixth singles over Sharks sophomore Carrie St. Peter (Chester, N.H.) to give RWU a 5-0 lead to clinch the dual match win.
 
Junior Riley Spillane (Easton, Mass.) and first year Tanya Gianitsos (Old Saybrook, Conn.) paired up for an 8-3 Hawks win at second doubles over the Simmons senior pair of Medici and Paola Rios (Miami, Fla.) to give the visitors a sweep in doubles play. Spillane enjoyed a 6-2, 6-1 showing against Johnson at number two singles, while Gianitsos blanked Mariski, 6-0, 6-0 at fifth singles.
 
Rios closed out the match with a win at number four singles for the Sharks when Crimmins was unable to continue due to injury. Crimmins had won the opening set, 6-2, before Rios took a 4-1 lead in the second frame before the stoppage.
 
Simmons returns to action on Monday, September 3 when it heads to Wenham, Mass. to take on Gordon College for a 1:00 p.m. start, while Roger Williams returns to the Boston area to take on Bentley University on September 4 at 3:00 p.m.
 
- Release courtesy of the Simmons University Sports Information Department