May 9, 2008

2008 NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S TENNIS EAST REGIONAL
First Round hosted by Bryant University

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Bryant University women's tennis team advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the fourth consecutive time as the Bulldogs, the No. 2 seed of the East Regional, defeated seventh-seed Philadelphia in first round action Friday at Brown University's Pizzitola Center.  Bryant will advance to face Slippery Rock on Saturday starting at 11 a.m.

Bryant led 2-1 after doubles play to open the match.  The Bulldogs, competing in the NCAA tournament for the fifth-straight year, led 3-1 after a 6-0, 6-0 straight-set win by Katie Francazio (Cranston, RI) at No. 4 singles.  But Philadelphia made it close as Daniela Rodriguez (Quito, Ecuador) defeated Bryant's Chelsea Downing (Cherry Hills, CO), 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2 to make it 3-2.  Bryant's Emma Czarnecki (Huntington Woods, MI) made it 4-2 with a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles but the Rams' Adriana Rodriguez (San Juan, P.R.) earned a win at No.3 to make it 5-3.  

Bryant freshman Valeria Couto Cuervo (Guaynabo, P.R.) clinched the match with a win over Christina Kettle (Chatham, NJ), winning 7-6 (7-1), 6-0.

In the other first round match, third-seeded Slippery Rock rolled to a 5-0 win over sixth-seeded Holy Family. The Rock swept all three doubles points to open the match and earned straight-set wins at No. 1 and No. 4 singles to clinch the match. Kayla Blackburn defeated Lauren Neill, 6-2, 6-3 and Jessica Hilborn defeated Liana Lui, 6-0, 6-1 to advance to the second round where they'll face Bryant Saturday for the right to advance to the Round of 16 in Houston, TX.

Bryant 5, Philadelphia 3

Doubles
1. Maddie Smith/Adriana Rodriguez (P) def. Emma Czarnecki/Chelsea Downing (B), 8-5
2. Valeria Couto Cuervo/Michelle Burke (B) def. Daniela Rodriguez/Christina Kettle (P), 8-1
3. Katharine Francazio/Lauren Mullen (B) def. Katie Stracquatanio / Stephanie Reinke (P), 8-1

Singles
1. Emma Czarnecki (B) def. Maddie Smith (P), 6-2, 6-1
2. Daniela Rodriguez (P) def. Chelsea Downing (B), 6-3, 6-1
3. Adriana Rodriguez (P) def. Michelle Burke (B), 6-3, 6-7 (1-7), 6-2
4. Katharine Francazio (B) def. Katie Stracquantanio (P), 6-0, 6-0
5. Valeria Couto Cuervo (B) def. Christina Kettle (P), 7-6 (7-1), 6-0
6. Lauren Mullen (B) vs. Stephanie Reinke (P), DNF

Records:  Bryant 24-2, Philadelphia 17-7
Order of finish: Doubles, 3-2-1; Singles, 4-2-1-3-5   

#3 Slippery Rock def. #6 Holy Family, 5-0

Doubles
1. Kayla Blackburn/Laura Handy (S) def.. Quena Borres / Shakir Willett (HF), 8-0
2. Samantha Blackburn/Jessica Hilborn (S) def. Lauren Neill/ Liana Lui (HF), 8-3
3 .Chelsea Gibson / Lara Rizzi (S) def. Melanie Pulsinelli / Ashley Berge (HF), 8-5

Singles
1. Kayla Blackburn (S) def. Lauren Neill (HF), 6-2, 6-3
2. Laura Handy (S) vs. Quena Borres (HF), DNF
3. Samantha Blackburn (S) vs. Shakir Willett (HF), DNF
4. Jessica Hilborn (S) def. Liana Lui (HF), 6-0, 6-1
5. Chelsea Gibson (S) vs. Melanie Pulsinelli (HF), DNF
6. Lara Rizzi (S) vs. Ashley Berge (HF), DNF
Records: Slippery Rock 21-3, Holy Family 15-6