CASTLETON, Vt. - October 8, 2016 - Colby-Sawyer earned its fifth-consecutive North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) East Division Women's Tennis Championship title, defeating Husson 5-0 in the championship match Saturday afternoon at the Castleton Tennis Courts.
The Chargers will face the NEAC West Division champion in the spring for the crossover championship. The winner of that match will earn the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament.
Colby-Sawyer started its march to the title by sweeping the doubles sets, starting with
Ashley Woodside, the 2016 Player of the Year, and
Maddy Gemerek defeating Meridith Blessard and Katie Pratt at number one doubles, 8-3.
Evelyn Miller and
Aislinn O'Connor earned an 8-1 victory over Sarah Smith and Charlotte Bednarz at number two doubles, and
Christine Hill and
Lauren Blanchard completed the doubles sweep for the Chargers with an 8-2 win over Kelsey Pelletier and Marisa Brown at number three doubles.
In the singles, Woodside pushed Colby-Sawyer to the brink of clinching the title with a straight-set win over Smith (6-1, 6-0) at number one singles. Just a couple of minutes later on the number two singles court, Miller finished play for the day with a straight-set win (6-0, 6-0) over Pratt.
Woodside was named MVP of the tournament, while teammates Hill and Miller joined her on the All-Tournament Team. Bednarz and Pratt represented Husson on the All-Tournament Team, while Kirsten Kruk of Castleton and Jana Somero of Johnson State also received mention on the squad.
2016 NEAC EAST DIVISION TOURNAMENT – ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ashley Woodside – Colby-Sawyer (MVP)
Christine Hill – Colby-Sawyer
Evelyn Miller – Colby-Sawyer
Charlotte Bednarz – Husson
Katie Pratt – Husson
Kirsten Kruk – Castleton
Jana Somero - Johnson State
SEMIFINAL RECAP
Colby-Sawyer punched its ticket to a sixth consecutive NEAC East Division Championship after defeating Castleton in the semifinal match on Saturday morning, 9-0.
The Chargers were quick out of the gates as NEAC East Player of the Year
Ashley Woodside alongside
Maddy Gemerek took the opening doubles match, defeating their counterparts and a pair of Second-Team All-Conference members in Ciara Bannister and Kirsten Kruk, 8-0.
In second flight doubles,
Evelyn Miller and
Aislinn O'Connor dropped just one game en route to an 8-1 victory over Megan Nadler and Kayla Zsido of Castleton.
Michelle Lopes and Hillary Boucher also swept Castleton's Emily Miller and Alexis Curley to move Colby-Sawyer out front 3-0 heading into singles.
Woodside continued her strong showing with a straight-set sweep over Bannister in No. 1 singles, while
Lauren Blanchard and
Christine Hill also earned points for Colby-Sawyer with wins by the same score.
Miller (No. 2), Gemerek (No. 3) and O'Connor (No. 4) cruised to straight set victories.
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Colby-Sawyer 5, Husson 0
10/08/16 at Castleton, Vt. (Castleton Tennis Courts)
| Match Notes |
| Husson 8-3 |
| Colby-Sawyer 12-1 |
| Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,2) |
| 2016 NEAC East Division Women's Tennis Tournament Championship |
| Official: Paul Reinhardt T-1:30 A-100 |
Colby-Sawyer 9, Castleton 0
10/08/16 at Castleton, Vt. (Castleton Tennis Courts)
| Match Notes |
| Castleton 7-7 |
| Colby-Sawyer 11-1 |
| Semifinal of 2016 NEAC East Tournament |
| Official: Paul Reinhardt T-2:30 A-30 |
