SAINTS’ CO-CAPTAINS SPARK 6-3

WIN AGAINST ROCHESTER

April 6: St. Lawrence University co-captains Teresa Rodriguez and Liz Ronty gave the women’s team a crucial point at No. 3 doubles on Sunday, giving the Saints a 2-1 lead heading into the singles portion of the match against the University of Rochester. The Scarlet and Brown used the momentum, winning four singles matches en route to a 6-3 victory over the Yellowjackets.

Rodriguez and Ronty played very well together in defeating Rochester ’s duo of Nisha Javeri and Diane Samuels, 8-1. The point gave St. Lawrence the lead after the No. 2 doubles team of sophomore Casey Gilman and rookie Stephanie Finn defeated Colleen Cross and Elana Polivy 8-0.

Rochester ’s lone point in doubles play came at the top-spot, where Alexa Perry and Lia Weiner knocked off senior Kirsten Lannon and sophomore Chelsea Hubbell, 8-2.

Weiner would even the score with an impressive 6-4, 6-0 win over Lannon at No. 1 singles, but Finn would get the point back for St. Lawrence with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Perry at the No. 2 slot.

Depth proved the be the key factor for the home team on Sunday, as the Saints went on to win three of the final four matches, including No. 3, 5 and 6 singles to down the Yellowjackets 6-3. Gilman fended off Polivy in the second set for a 6-4, 7-6 (4) win, while Hubbell beat Samuels 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 5 spot. St. Lawrence’s final point came from first year student Mackenzie Hall, who outplayed Maria Janda at No. 6 singles, 6-4, 6-1.

Cross posted a 6-3, 6-3 win over Rodriguez at the No. 4 spot for Rochester ’s final point in the match.

“I think Teresa (Rodriguez) and Liz (Ronty) really swung the tide in their doubles match, and gave us the momentum going into singles,” said Saints’ head coach Jeremy Freeman. “This was definitely a match we needed heading into conference play next week.”

St. Lawrence will open up the 2008 Liberty League schedule with a dual-match against William Smith in Geneva, NY on Saturday, April 12.

LANNON AND FINN LEAD SAINTS’

SWEEP OF NAZARETH

April 5: The St. Lawrence University women’s tennis team improved to 6-2 on the season with a 9-0 shutout of Nazareth College in the Newell Field House on Saturday morning. First year student Stephanie Finn extended her unbeaten streak to 14 matches in dual-match action with wins at both No. 2 singles and doubles.

The Scarlet and Brown captured a 3-0 lead with sharp play in the doubles portion of the match. Senior Kirsten Lannon and sophomore Chelsea Hubbell outlasted Nazareth’s Jackeline Martinez and Rachel Leonard, 8-5, at No. 1 doubles while Finn and sophomore Casey Gilman blanked Ellen Austin and Danielle Carinci at the No. 2 slot, 8-0.

St. Lawrence co-captains junior Teresa Rodriguez and sophomore Liz Ronty teamed at No. 3 doubles and picked up a point with an 8-4 win over Elizabeth Way and Jessica Faber.

Finn improved to 6-0 at the No. 2 singles spot this season with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Leonard. Lannon added a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Austin to her resume at No. 1, while Gilman defeated Martinez in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5 in the No. 3 spot.

Rodriguez, Hubbell and rookie Mackenzie Hall completed the Saints’ sweep in the final three singles slots. Rodriguez routed Faber 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4, Hubbell came from behind to post a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Carinci and Hall beat Way at No. 6, 6-2, 6-3.

“I thought the ladies exhibited consistency from the top of the order to the bottom today,” said Saints’ head coach Jeremy Freeman. “We’ll need to bring that same focus tomorrow against Rochester.”

The Scarlet and Brown will take on the University of Rochester tomorrow, Sunday, April 6 in the Newell Field House.