Women's Tennis Outlasts Clark, 6-3

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's tennis team outlasted visiting Clark University, 6-3, on Thursday afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.

The Bears improve to 4-4 on the season, while the Cougars fall to 1-1. The two teams have met four times since 2017 with the Bears winning all four matches.

The Bears captured two of the three doubles and matches and four of the six singles flights.

In doubles play, BSU graduate student Vanessa Rosa (Taunton, Mass.) and sophomore Meghan Lotti (Stoneham, Mass.) teamed up for an 8-6 decision at third doubles, while senior Mackenzie Silveira (Middletown, R.I.) and junior Allison Carter (Raynham, Mass.) won in a tiebreaker, 8-7 (7-4), at the second flight.

Junior Hannah Russo (Bridgewater, Mass.) and freshman Sunjana Venkitakrishnan (Irvine, Calif.) notched the Cougars' lone doubles point as the duo won in a tiebreaker at the top spot, 8-7 (7-3).

Venkitakrishnan evened the match at 2-2 with a 6-0, 6-4 straight set triumph at second singles, but the Bears quickly reclaimed the lead with a 6-4, 6-4 straight set win by Silveira at the third flight. BSU sophomore Madeline Von Ruden (Ashley Falls, Mass.) and Russo split the first two sets at number one, 5-7, 6-4, but Russo was forced to retire due to injury before the start of the third set. Carter then recorded the decisive fifth point for Bridgewater State with a tough 6-4, 7-5 victory at the fifth spot.

Senior Maeve McEnroe (Marion, Mass.) won in a super tiebreaker for Clark at fourth singles, 6-3, 4-6, 10-8, while Lotti rounded out the scoring for the Bears as she battled back from as set down to post a 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 triumph at the sixth flight.

In upcoming action, the Bears entertain Little East Conference (LEC) rival UMass Dartmouth tomorrow afternoon at 3:30. The Cougars have wrapped up the fall portion of their schedule and will return to the courts on Saturday, March 25th at home against NEWMAC foe Wellesley College.