Women's Tennis Edged by Johnson & Wales, 5-4

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The visiting Johnson & Wales University women's tennis team edged Bridgewater State University, 5-4, in non-conference action on Tuesday afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.

Johnson and Wales jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play with a pair of 9-8 wins at first and third doubles as both flights went to a tie-breaker.  Sophomore Samantha Jo Borr (Westfield, N.J.) and junior Ansley Sego (Naperville Ill.) downed the Bears' top-flight tandem of junior Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) and senior Lauren Hopp (Dartmouth, Mass.), while sophomore Gabrielle Longo (Philadelphia, Pa.) and senior Joanna Kaskiw (Carteret, N.J.) edged BSU's third doubles team of freshman Alison Vautrin (Somerset, Mass.) and sophomore Rachael Eramo (Rowley, Mass.).

Seniors Ashley Pereira (Assonet, Mass.) and Brittney Hislop (Burley, Wash.) gave Bridgewater their only doubles point with an 8-5 decision at the second flight.

After Vautrin and Hopp gave Bridgewater a 3-2 lead with straight set wins at fourth (6-1, 6-2) and fifth (6-2, 6-0) singles, respectively, JWU sophomore Stephanie Piperis (Yorktown Height, N.Y.) won in straight sets at the second flight, 6-0, 7-6 (7-4), to tie the match at 3-3.  Sego then regained the lead for the Wildcats with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph at number three.

BSU freshman Melissa Flynn (Stoneham, Mass.) posted a 7-6 (7-4), 6-0 win at sixth singles to even the match at 4-4, but Borr would post a straight set victory over Williamson at the top flight to give the Wildcats the win.

The Wildcats remain unbeaten on the season with the win as they improve to 4-0, while the host Bears slip to 4-1 with their first loss of the 2012 campaign.  Both teams were coming off outstanding performances at the Newport Grass Court Doubles Tournament this past weekend at the International Tennis Hall of Fame as Johnson & Wales won the event with Bridgewater State placing second out of seven teams.

In upcoming action, Bridgewater State travels to Western Connecticut State University on Tuesday afternoon for a four o'clock Little East Conference match with the Colonials. Johnson & Wales heads to UMass Dartmouth on Thursday afternoon for a 3:30 non-conference affair with the Corsairs.