Wildcats Claw Lynx 7-2 in NECC Women’s Tennis Action

LONGMEADOW, Mass.- The Wildcats of Bay Path College defeated the first year Lynx of Lesley University 7-2 today in New England Collegiate Conference women's tennis action.

This meeting was the first for both teams as Lesley is in their inaugural year for women's tennis in the NECC. Bay Path opened up taking all three doubles matches with ease.

In the #1 spot senior duo Julia Bendzin (Poestenkill, N.Y.) and Kara Fox (Biddeford, Maine) teamed up for an 8-3 win over the Lynx freshman pair Brenna Donovan (Hingham, Mass.) and Nicole Smith (Rindge, N.H.). In the two spot, the tandem of senior Cristina Ruiz (Waterbury, Conn.) and sophomore Sarah Costa (Tiverton, R.I.) won 8-2 over sophomore Courtney Mullen (Springfield, Ore.) and senior Jillian Zingale (Huntington, N.Y.). Finally in the #3 doubles flight sophomore Lianna Loveitt (Gorham, Maine) and junior Carolina Ynguanzo (Springfield, Mass.) downed Michelle Side and freshman Carolina Cingari (Stamford, Conn.) 8-4.

Bay Path took the #1, #3, #4 and #6 singles flights while Lesley notched their two points in the #2 and #5 matches.

In the #1 flight Bendzin won 6-4, 6-3, while Ynguanzo also won 6-3, 6-4 in the #4 flight. In the # 3 flight Costa easily topped Donavan 6-0, 6-1 as did Fox in the #6 flight. Side was able to take the tie-breaker set to overcome Ruiz in a hard fought battle at the #2 flight 0-6, 6-4, 6-3. Rounding out the flights was a 6-3, 6-3 win for Cingari over Loveitt in the five spot.

Bay Path advances to a 5-2 overall record and 2-1 in the NECC, while Lesley falls to 2-4 on the season and 1-3 in conference play. The Wildcats will be back in action hosting Newbury Sept. 30^th at a 3:30 match time. The Lynx travel to Brookline to face Newbury October 3^rd also at a 3:30 start.

Tennis Match Results
Lesley University vs Bay Path
9/26/2009 at Longmeadow, Mass.
(Longmeadow Courts)

Bay Path 7, Lesley University 2

Singles competition
1. Julia Bendzin (BPWT) def. Courtney Mullen (LUWT) 6-4, 6-3
2. Michelle Side (LUWT) def. Cristina Ruiz (BPWT) 0-6, 6-4, 6-4
3. Sarah Costa (BPWT) def. Brenna Donovan (LUWT) 6-0, 6-1
4. Carolina Ynguanzo (BPWT) def. Nicole Smith (LUWT) 6-3, 6-4
5. Caroline Cingari (LUWT) def. Lianna Loveitt (BPWT) 6-3, 6-3
6. Kara Fox (BPWT) def. Jillian Zingale (LUWT) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Julia Bendzin/Kara Fox (BPWT) def. Brenna Donovan/Nicole Smith (LUWT) 8-3
2. Cristina Ruiz/Sarah Costa (BPWT) def. Courtney Mullen/Jillian Zingale (LUWT) 8-2
3. Lianna Loveitt/Carolina Ynguanzo (BPWT) def. Michelle Side/Caroline Cingari (LUWT) 8-4

Match Notes:
Lesley University 2-4, (1-3 NECC)
Bay Path 5-2, (2-1 NECC)
T-3:45  A-37