Women's Tennis Blanked by No. 13 NYIT in Spring Opener
Links: Box Score
MIDDLETON, Mass. – The Merrimack College women's tennis team went toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the nation on Saturday afternoon from the Northeast Tennis Center, falling 9-0 to the No. 13 New York Institute of Technology out of the East Coast Conference.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 0 | NYIT 9
Records: Merrimack (11-6, 8-4 NE-10) | NYIT (14-0, 8-0 ECC)
Location: Middleton, Mass. | Northeast Tennis Center
What They Said
Head coach Aaron Bergeron: "Our women fought until the end. They're a very talented team and they play at a level we haven't seen this year. Our spring schedule is going to be tough but I think we have a great opportunity to learn from each match and get prepared for our next playoff run."
How It Happened
The last time Merrimack took the court, it was in the Northeast-10 Championship Final, where the Warriors fought valiantly before falling to Stonehill, finishing as the runner-up in the conference.
Two-time NE-10 Player of the Year Grace Messina (Caracas, Venezuela) opened up at No. 1 doubles and singles for Merrimack, as she did throughout the entire fall campaign. Her parter, senior Chealsey Giatrelis (Centerville, Mass.) was named to the all-conference first team at No. 1 doubles and the third team at No. 2 singles. Merrimack's lineup mirrored the one they trotted out during the NE-10 Final.
All three doubles matches went to the ECC Champions by the score of 8-1. In singles play, Messina put up a strong fight at No.1 singles, while freshman Danielle Dunn (Middleton, Mass.) took her opponent to a 4-6 final in the first game, before succumbing 0-6 in the second game.
Merrimack has six more matches remaining on its schedule, as it continues to work towards a possible at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament this May.
Results
Doubles
1. Alessia Rossetti/ Sara Burinato (NYIT) def. Grace Messina/Chealsey Giatrelis (MER) 1-8
2. Melanie Benyadi / Alexandra Borgenhoff (NYIT) def. Shakee Messina/Rachel Muller (MER) 1-8
3. Gabriela Siembab/Justyna Krol (NYIT) def. Danielle Dunn /Mackenzie Blair (MER) 1-8
Singles
1. Alessia Rossetti (NYIT) def. Grace Messina (MER) 2-6, 3-6
2. Sara Burinato (NYIT) def. Chealsey Giatrelis (MER) 0-6, 0-6
3. Melanie Benyadi (NYIT) def. Shakee Messina (MER) 0-6, 1-6
4. Gabriela Siembab (NYIT) def. Danielle Dunn (MER) 4-6, 0-6
5. Alexandra Borgenhoff (NYIT) def. Rachel Muller (MER) 0-6, 0-6
6. Justyna Krol (NYIT) def. Mackenzie Blair (MER) 0-6, 1-6
Up Next
The Navy and Gold will held to Florida during Spring break to participate in three matches beginning on March 8 in Saint Leo, Fla. against Saint Leo.
--
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.
