Women's Tennis Remains Unbeaten with 8-1 Win over WCSU

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's tennis team won their ninth straight match as the Bears remained unbeaten on the season with an 8-1 victory over defending Little East Conference champion Western Connecticut State University on Thursday afternoon.

The host Bears captured all three doubles matches and five out of six singles flights to pick up the victory as they improved to 9-0 on the season and 5-0 in conference play.  Western Connecticut falls to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the Little East with the loss.

Senior Jessica Francis (West Barnstable, Mass.) paced the Bears with a 6-4, 6-1 straight set win at number two singles.  Francis also paired with classmate Lauren Donnelly (Centerville, Mass.) for an 8-0 victory at first doubles.

BSU rookie Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) teamed with sophomore Lauren Hopp (Dartmouth, Mass.) for an 8-2 triumph at third doubles and also won in straight sets (6-3, 6-1) at number three singles. 

Sophomore Julie Kraby (Wrentham, MA) and junior Bridget Murphy (Mattapoisett, Mass.) picked up the other doubles win for Bridgewater with an 8-2 decision at the third flight.  Kraby and Murphy also won in straight sets at fourth and fifth singles respectively.

Freshman Alison Joseph (Dartmouth, Mass.) rounded out the scoring for the Bears with a 6-2, 6-0 straight set victory at number six singles.

Western Connecticut senior Lauren Post (Danbury, Conn.) needed two sets (6-4, 6-2) to pick up the visitor's lone triumph at first flight singles.

Bridgewater is undefeated this deep into the season for the second straight year as the Bears also went 9-0 to start the 2009 campaign.  A year ago, Western Connecticut ended BSU's nine-match winning streak with an 8-1 win.  The Colonials also knocked off the Bears, 5-3, in the Little East Tournament championship match.

In upcoming action, Bridgewater State will host UMass Dartmouth while Western Connecticut travels to the University of Southern Maine on Saturday, October 9th.  Both matches start at noon.