Women’s Tennis Wins First Match, Downs WNE, 5-2

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Suffolk women's tennis wrapped up its Conference of New England (CNE) regular-season schedule in winning fashion as the Rams defeated Western New England, 5-2, Saturday afternoon at Forest Park Tennis Courts.  

The win was not only the blue-and-gold's first of the year and of the Zack Goodstein era, but marked the first time Suffolk defeated the Golden Bears. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 5 | Western New England 2
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-8, 1-5 CNE) | Western New England (2-6, 0-5 CNE) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Rams swept doubles play to take the first point of the day. All doubles courts finished by 6-2 decisions. Caren Urbano and Megha Tenneti were the blue-and-gold's top tandem. Rachel Hill and Nia Bebb teamed up in the second slot and Chloe Pszenny and Elene Nishnianidze played at No. 3 together. 

Suffolk compiled singles victories on courts five, six, one and four in that order to secure the victory for the Rams.  

Pszenny defeated Gabby Tirkot, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 5, before Nishniandize knocked down Gianna Arace, 6-1, 6-2, in the sixth spot. 

Urbano clinched the win with a 6-1, 6-2 decision over Emma Miller in the first position.  

Hill downed Sydney Shepard, 6-2, 1-6, 10-4, to make it 5-0 Suffolk.  

Western New England got on the board as Malina Dinis bested Bebb, 6-2, 4-6, 10-7, in the third position.  

Tenneti fell to Catie Seklecki, 2-6, 6-4, 10-4, in the second slot for the 5-2 final score.  

RESULTS
DOUBLES
1 – Caren Urbano/Megha Tenneti (Suffolk) defeated Malina Dinis/Sydney Shepard (WNE), 6-2
2 – Rachel Hill/Nia Bebb (Suffolk) defeated Emma Miller/Catie Seklecki (WNE), 6-2
3 – Chloe Pszenny/Elene Nishnianidze (Suffolk) defeated Gianna Arace/Yasmine Giacalone (WNE), 6-2

SINGLES
1 – Caren Urbano (Suffolk) defeated Emma Miller (WNE), 6-1, 6-2
2 – Catie Seklecki (WNE) defeated Megha Tenneti (Suffolk), 2-6, 6-4, 10-4
3 – Malina Dinis (WNE) defeated Nia Bebb (Suffolk), 6-2, 4-6, 10-7
4 – Rachel Hill (Suffolk) defeated Sydney Shepard (WNE), 6-2, 1-6, 10-4
5 – Chloe Pszenny (Suffolk) defeated Gabby Tirkot (WNE), 6-1, 6-1
6 – Elene Nishnianidze (Suffolk) defeated Gianna Arace (WNE), 6-1, 6-2 

Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 1, 2) | Singles (5, 6, 1, 4, 3, 2)

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk won its first match of the season. 
• The Rams secured their first victory under Goodstein's guidance. 
• Suffolk defeated Western New England for the first time in the all-time series. 
• The Rams are now 1-6 versus the Golden Bears all-time. 
• Suffolk is now 1-4 at WNE. 
• The battle between the blue-and-gold and Golden Bears was played in Springfield, Massachusetts for the third straight season. 
• The partnership of Pszenny and Nishniandize remains unbeaten, 2-0, on the year. 
• The twosome of Urbano and Tenneti record its first win together. 
• Nishnianidze moved to 4-5 in singles action this season. 
• Pszenny picked up her third singles victory of the campaign. 
• Hill and Urbano both logged their second singles win of the year.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk takes a break from CNE action Tuesday, Oct. 8 when it entertains Emerson The Rivers School in Weston, Massachusetts. First serve is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.