Women’s Tennis Claims First-Ever Playoff Win, Bests Gordon in CCC Quarterfinals
WENHAM, Mass.- The fifth-seeded Eastern Nazarene College women's tennis team defeated fourth-seeded Gordon 5-2 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament quarterfinals Wednesday afternoon to capture the program's first-ever playoff victory.
The Lions improve to 10-4 on the season and advance to the CCC semifinals for the first time in program history with their first win over Gordon since 1996. The Fighting Scots fall to 6-5 overall with the result.
The visitors clung to a narrow 2-1 lead after doubles play.
Adele Duval (Reading, Calif.) and Emily Ruttkowski (Castrop-Rauxel, Germany) edged Kaelyn Hall and Maddie Berry 8-6 at the top doubles position.
Sharon Biondi (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) and Lindsey Steelman (Darlington, Md.) prevailed 9-8 at the No. 2 spot after topping Gabby Brucker and Justine Hanson in a tiebreaker 7-3.
Jordan Cressman (Bowmanstown, Pa.) and Veronica Jimenez (Lynn, Mass.) dropped an 8-0 decision to Caitlin Kwok and Emily Ontiveros at the third slot.
Eastern Nazarene chalked up three singles victories to clinch the match and move onto the semifinal round to face top-seed Nichols October 17.
Ruttkowski downed Katherine Jeffreys at the No. 2 singles position 6-1, 7-6.
Duval notched her team-leading 12th singles win of the fall with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Hall at the third spot.
Steelman collected her 11th singles victory of the year at the No. 4 slot, triumphing 7-6, 6-1 over Berry.
Cressman suffered a 6-0, 6-2 setback to Brucker at the fifth position.
Up next, the Lions return home to host Bridgewater State October 12 on Senior Day.