NEWPORT, R.I. -- The Bridgewater State University women's tennis team placed second at the 28th edition of the Women's Grass Court Doubles Championships hosted by Salve Regina University at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island.

The second place finish is the highest in program history for the Bears at the tournament.  Johnson & Wales University captured the team title with nine points, followed by Bridgewater (eight points) and Holy Cross (eight points).  BSU won the tie-breaker over Holy Cross by virtue of their 2-1 head-to-head record versus the Crusader.

The Bears number on doubles team of junior Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) and senior Lauren Hopp (Dartouth, Mass.) and the third flight team of sophomore Rachael Eramo (Rowley, Mass.) and freshman Alison Vautrin (Somerset, Mass.) each advnaced to their respective championship matches before losing in the finals.

Williamson and Hopp downed their opponents from Holy Cross in the quarterfinal, 9-7, and from Salve in the semifinals, 8-4, before dropping an 8-2 decision to Johnson & Wales in the championship match.

Eramo and Vautrin defeated their opponents from Colby-Sawyer in the quarterfinal, 8-6, and from Holy Cross in the semifinals, 8-6, before dropping a tough 9-7 decision to Assumption in the championship match.

Established in 1984 by then Salve Regina head coach Paul Cardoza, the tournament has subsequently been directed by Geraldine DiCamillo and, for the past 21 years, current Seahawk head coach Ed Habershaw.

Making the annual trip to the historic grass courts on the Newport Casino, home of the first United States championships in 1881, were seven schools and over 50 players. Teams entered three doubles pairs (Flights A, B, and C).

The field included Division I (Holy Cross), Division II (Assumption), and Division III (Bridgewater State, Colby-Sawyer, Curry, Johnson & Wales, and Salve Regina) competitors matching up in eight-game pro-sets with a main draw and full consolation. Teams earned two points for a win in a main draw match and one point for a consolation win.