BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University women's tennis team is set for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament Semifinal tilt with Nichols on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 3 pm at the RWU Tennis Courts.
The Hawks and Bison will meet for the second time this season, and for the third consecutive CCC Tournament, with the Bison holding a 2-1 lead in those matchups. In their previous two matchups, the Hawks have earned the victory, and boast a 12-5 record in their 17 matches at home, and hold a 18-16 edge in the all-time series.
Earlier this season on Sept. 21, the Hawks edged out Nichols 5-4, with match coming down to the No. 1 Singles match between
Emma Place (Francestown, N.H.) and Antonia Carrero in a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 finish, that saw Place come back from a set down, to clinch the match. The Hawks went 2-3 in Singles play after taking the doubles portion 2-1.
The Bison entered the CCC Tournament as the No. 3 seed with an 6-4 overall record, now 7-4 after a win in the quarterfinals against Gordon, and a 5-2 record within the CCC. The Bison's lone conference losses to the No. 1 seed in the CCC Tournament, Endicott, and No. 2 Roger Williams.
Roger Williams (12-1, 6-1 CCC) enters the Semifinals having last played on Oct. 12 against Emerson, in a 9-0 sweep of the Lions. The Hawks lone loss of the season came on Oct. 11 against Endicott in CCC play.
For the Bison the No. 1 doubles pairing of Antonia Carrero and Charis Vogler have boasted a 5-1 record playing together on the season. This will be the first time the duo, faces the Roger Williams pairing of Place and
Alessia Cahoon (Dedham, Mass.) who have gone a combined 8-2 as the Hawks top doubles pairing.
At No. 2 doubles the Hawks'
Gianna Ferraro (Westerly, R.I.) and
Gracie McCarthy (Marion, Mass.) will tag together against Tifany Lucart and Sophia Leonard. The Hawks' Ferraro and McCarthy have paired together in second doubles 13 times this season holding a 10-3 record in second doubles, while the Bison duo have appeared in six matches together, holding a 6-1 season record.
The final doubles match of the contest will be between the teams Kelley Carlin and Jordan Knowles who have combined for a 6-2 record, and will be facing the 5-3 pairing of
Olivia Santoro (Cheshire, Conn.) and
Izzy Pecora (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.).
At the top singles match Place (8-4) will clash with Carrero (6-4) in a rematch of their three-set thriller earlier this season. Vogler (9-2) will appear for the Bison at the No. 2 spot, facing off against Ferraro (12-1) who has 11 wins at the No. 2 spot for the Hawks.
Cahoon will then take the court for the Hawks at No. 3 after posting an 10-2 overall record on the season, with a 5-2 conference record. Her opponent will be Leonardi who is 4-5 in singles play.
McCarthy (10-2) will then take the court against the Bison's Johanna Schroeder, who has served primarily as a singles specialist for Nichols this season, in No. 4 singles. Knowles (1-3) and Pecora (10-3) will have a tilt in No. 5 singles, and No. 6 singles will take place between Lucart (5-2) and Santoro (10-2).
The Hawks and Bison clash will begin at 3 pm on Thursday, Oct. 20. The winner will advance to the CCC Championship match on Saturday, Oct. 22 hosted by the highest remaining seed. The winner will face the winner of No. 4 Salve Regina and No. 1 Endicott.
