AMHERST, MA – Simmons Tennis earned a 5-0 win over Colby-Sawyer College Friday afternoon in the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Regional Championship First Round, which was held indoors at the Hampshire College Bay Road Tennis Club. The Chargers end their season at 17-6, while the Sharks improve to 15-7 and will take on regional host Amherst College Saturday at 1 p.m.

Simmons, which earned a 7-2 win over Colby-Sawyer during the regular season, got off to a strong start by sweeping doubles play. Athena Lynch ’12 and Liza Pope ’12 were the first to give Simmons a point, earning an 8-1 win over Carolyn Drake ’11 and Brittany Mailman ’10 at No. 3. In the No. 2 pairing, Melissa Keroack ’13 and Maggie Taylor ’12 defeated Claire Toffey ’13 and Lauren Turenne ’12, 8-5.

The top Colby-Sawyer pair of Jen LaChance ’10 and Hannah White ’11 held a 6-5 lead over Maile Macleod ’11 and Sabrina Salmela ’13, but the Simmons duo stormed back to win the next three games for an 8-6 win that wrapped up doubles action.

Simmons took a 4-0 lead after the first singles match was wrapped up. Maggie Taylor picked up a 6-1, 6-2 win over Lauren Turenne in straight sets, putting the Sharks on the verge of victory. Shortly after, Simmons clinched the win as Katy Hallinan closed out a 6-4, 6-0 win against Claire Toffey at number three.

In a pair of matches that were in underway, Simmons and Colby-Sawyer were each in line for another win as the matches were halted with the decision clinched. The Sharks will take on the top-ranked hosts from Amherst Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. on the Amherst campus.

Simmons : Colby-Sawyer ~ Amherst, Mass ~ Friday, May 14, 2010

Doubles
1. Maile Macleod/Sabrina Salmela (SC) def. Jen LaChance/Hannah White (CSC) 8-6

2. Melissa Keroack/Maggie Taylor (SC) def. Claire Toffey/Lauren Turenne (CSC) 8-5

3. Athena Lynch/Liza Pope (SC) def. Carolyn Drake/Brittany Mailman (CSC) 8-1

Singles

1. Sabrina Salmela (SC) leading Jen LaChance (CSC) 6-4, 2-2, unfinished

2. Hannah White (CSC) leading Maile Macleod (SC) 6-2, 0-6, 2-0, unfinished

3. Katy Hallinan (SC) def. Claire Toffey (CSC) 6-4, 6-0

4. Maggie Taylor (SC) def. Lauren Turenne (CSC) 6-1, 6-2

5. Brittany Mailman (CSC) leading Liza Pope (SC) 2-0, unfinished

6. Athena Lynch (SC) vs. Carolyn Drake (CSC), did not start

*Courtesy Simmons College Athletic Communications