BRISTOL, R.I. — The Roger Williams University women's tennis team opened CNE play in winning fashion Tuesday afternoon, rallying past Gordon College, 4-3, at the RWU Tennis Courts. With the victory, the Hawks improve to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in CNE play, while Gordon falls to 0-1 overall and 0-1 in conference action.
The victory also marked the 22nd win for the Hawks in the all-time series against Gordon, as RWU now leads the series, 22-16.
Hawks Take Control in Doubles
RWU got off to a strong start in doubles play, claiming two of the three matches to secure the doubles point.
At No. 2 doubles, Megan Bache (Westbrook, Conn.) and Adriana Palmieri (Southington, Conn.) cruised to a 6-1 victory over Chloe Hanley and Abigail Goodwin.
The Hawks followed with another 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles, where Ella Mancini (Middlebury, Conn.) and Claire Dwyer (Manchester, Maine) defeated Serena Ross and Amanda Kim.
At No. 1 doubles, Valentina Abarca (Riobamba, Ecuador) and Iris Gkrekou (Athens, Greece) battled Lucille Belval and Makayla Otey before falling, 6-4.
Singles Decides the Match
With the doubles point secured, the Hawks needed three singles victories to claim the CNE-opening win.
Gkrekou continued her strong afternoon at No. 2 singles, earning a straight-set 6-0, 6-4 victory over Chloe Hanley.
Mancini followed at No. 4 singles, cruising past Gianna Hallam, 6-2, 6-0, to give RWU another point.
At No. 5 singles, Palmieri delivered the deciding point, overcoming Abigail Goodwin, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, to secure the 4-3 victory for the Hawks.
Abarca battled at No. 1 singles before falling to Belval, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, while Bache dropped her No. 3 singles match to Ross, 6-2, 6-1.
At No. 6 singles, Scarlett Bernard (Westwood, Mass.) took the opening set against Otey, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Hawks return to action Saturday, Sept. 19, traveling to Boston, Mass., to take on Suffolk at 3 p.m.
