Middlebury, Vt. – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's tennis team advanced to the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament with a 4-0 victory over Rhode Island College on Friday morning.
The Ducks improved to 17-2 on the season, matching the program record for wins in a single campaign originally set in 2000. Stevens also handed Rhode Island College its first loss of the year and secured an NCAA Tournament victory for the fifth consecutive season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stevens grabbed the early momentum by securing the doubles point with victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 flights.
Stephanie Untermeyer and
Gigi Arenas earned a 6-2 win at No. 2 doubles after dropping the opening game before rattling off five straight to seize control. At No. 3 doubles,
Alix Dry and
Kaylee Hobbick also produced a 6-2 triumph. After taking the first two games, the duo responded to Rhode Island College trimming the deficit to 2-1 by winning three consecutive games to build separation. The pair clinched doubles for the Ducks with the final point after the Anchormen closed within 5-2. At the time the point was secured,
Wei-Wei Lai and
Lorena Piegas held a 5-2 advantage at No. 1 doubles.
Hobbick extended the Stevens lead in singles play with a dominant performance at the No. 5 position. The first-year rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 victory, winning her opening 11 games before conceding her lone point of the match. She immediately responded with another game win to close out the straight-set triumph and give Stevens a 2-0 lead. Untermeyer continued the Ducks' strong play at No. 3 singles. Tied 1-1 in the opening set, the senior took command by winning five of the next six games for a 6-2 first-set victory. In the second set, Untermeyer again pulled away late, capturing the final five games to secure a 6-2, 6-1 decision and move Stevens within one point of advancing.
Dry delivered the clinching point from the top singles flight. After a flawless 6-0 opening set, the junior surged ahead 5-0 in the second before Rhode Island College's Arianna De Thomas mounted a comeback attempt to cut the margin to 5-3. Dry regrouped and closed out the final game to complete a 6-0, 6-3 win and send the Ducks into the Second Round. At the time the match was clinched,
Julia Chiovitti led 6-4, 0-2 at No. 6 singles, Piegas held a 6-3, 1-2 scoreline at No. 2, and Lai had rebounded from dropping the opening set to take a 5-2 advantage in the second at No. 4 singles.
UP NEXT
The Ducks will face Babson College in the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament on Saturday at 10:00 a.m.
