Donnelly Named Little East Tournament Most Outstanding Player

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior Lauren Donnelly was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of last week's Little East Conference Women's Tennis Tournament as she helped the Bears' capture the conference tournament title for the second time in the past four years.

Donnelly, who hails from Centerville, Massachusetts, won each of her matches at top-flight doubles with classmate Jessica Francis (West Barnstable, Mass.). The senior tandem defeated their opponents from Salem State, 8-5, in BSU's 5-2 semifinal win over the Vikings.  Donnelly and Francis then posted an 8-5 triumph as the second-seeded Bears blanked top seed UMass Dartmouth, 5-0, in the tournament title match.

Donnelly was unable to complete either of her matches at number one singles as all unfinished flights were stopped in accordance with tournament rules once the Bears reached five team points.

Bridgewater will now advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament, which takes place next May, for the second time in program history.  Bridgewater also advanced in 2007 after winning the Little East Tournament when it was an individual flighted format.

The Bears improved to 14-1 with the victory as they set the program record for wins in a season.  The previous mark of 13 was originally set in 1986 (13-1) and equaled in 1989 (13-0). 

Donnelly is 7-6 in top flight singles play this season and an impressive 14-3 teaming with Francis at first doubles.  In three years at Bridgewater State, she is 23-16 overall in singles play and 33-14 in doubles.