Women's Tennis Opens Little East Play With 5-4 Victory Over UMass Boston

Worcester, MA --- Freshman Faina Volf (Sharon, MA) and junior Megan Shepard (Middletown, RI) won each of their respective singles and doubles matchups to help pace Worcester State to a 5-4 victory over UMass Boston in Little East women's tennis action this afternoon at Clark's Corash Tennis Courts.

With the win the Lancers improve to 4-0 (1-0 LEC) while the Beacons slip to 0-3 and 0-1 in conference action.

Shepard teamed with sophomore Shelby Jankins (W. Brookfield, MA) for the 8-0 triumph at second doubles before Volf paired with freshman Rachel Green (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy) to earn the 9-7 win as the third seed.

UMass Boston's point at pairs play came from the top flight as freshman Martina Daelli (Florence, Italy) and freshman Kristy Garcia (Miami, FL) downed WSU senior Danielle Candelieri (Chelmsford, MA) and freshman Natalie Paul (Worcester, MA/Worcester Academy), 8-5.

Worcester State put the contest away with three wins to close out the game. Paul defeated junior Logan Smith (Southwick, MA), 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 for the clinching point at third singles while Volf and Shepard both won their matchups at fourth and fifth singles in straight sets, respectively.

Garcia defeated Jankins, 7-5 and 6-2, at first singles, Daelli dispatched Candelieri, 7-5 and 7-5 in a close second seeded battle before UMB junior Nurcin Celebi (Istanbul, Turkey) won at sixth singles, 6-2 and 6-4 over junior Cassandra Goncalves (Ludlow, MA).

Both teams will host opponents in the next week. The Blue and Gold take on Southern Maine next Saturday in a Little East game at Wachusett High School (12 PM) while UMass Boston entertains Eastern Nazarene at 3 PM on Thursday.