REGIS ADVANCES TO THIRD-STRAIGHT NECC FINAL

WESTON, Mass. - Despite rain forcing a change of venue, Regis College defeated Becker College, 9-0, on Saturday afternoon in the New England Collegiate Conference Women's Tennis Semifinals on Saturday afternoon. Doubles play was conducted on the campus of Regis, while singles play needed to be concluded at the Longfellow Tennis Club.

The Pride (10-1) enter their third-straight NECC Championship match and are in pursuit of their third-consecutive NECC crown. Becker wraps up its season at 3-13.

In a pre-match ceremony, Regis honored its two seniors - Kendall Kolb (Plymouth, Mass.) and Erika Palmer (Southborough, Mass.) - for their contributions to Regis College and its athletic department.

At the top doubles spot, Emily Rice (Pittsfield, Mass.) and Erica Murphy (Portsmouth, N.H.) defeated Jennifer Lord (Fall River, Mass.) and Kerry Saltvick (Bakersfield, Conn.), 8-3. The Pride posted matching scores of 8-1 at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to take a 3-0 lead in the match. Jessie Lord (Fall River, Mass.) and Emily Morgenbesser (Bayport, N.Y.) defeated Livia Smith (Worcester, Mass.) and Chenylle Mercado (Tyngsboro, Mass.) at No. 2 doubles, while Kendall Kolb and Amy DiPace (Cambridge, Mass.) beat Dana Mahan (Manville, R.I.) and Jessica Guilbeault (Little Rock, Ark.).

The Pride swept singles play, winning the final three singles positions in pro sets. Jessie Lord defeated Jennifer Lord, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 1 singles, while Erica Murphy defeated Livia Smith, 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2 singles. Emily Rice swept Kerry Saltvick in straight-sets 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 singles. Jewel Medeiros (Rochester, Mass.), Melinda Mara (Pelham, N.H.), and Erika Palmer were victorious at No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 singles, respectively.

Regis will host the NECC Championship match on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. They will take on either No. 2 seed Lesley University or No. 3 seed Bay Path University, who faced off on Saturday afternoon.