WESTON, Mass. – Regis College battled Bridgewater State throughout Friday's 2021 opener, but the Bears won the deciding match to defeat the Pride, 5-4, in a non-conference women's collegiate tennis contest at the Regis Tennis Courts.

Down 4-3, Regis pulled into a tie thanks to a come-from-behind victory for Stephanie Beatrice (Rockland, Mass.) at #5 singles. Beatrice dropped the first set to Mackenzie Silveira, 6-3, before rallying to win the next two sets, 6-4 and 6-3, for the match-tying decision.

At #1 singles, Katelyn Mogelnicki (Wethersfield, Conn.) won the first set, 6-4, but Madeline Von Ruden took the second set, 7-5. Von Ruden pulled ahead in the third set, 5-3, and served for the match, but Mogelnicki broke her serve to extend it. However, Von Ruden would break Mogelnicki's serve to clinch the match as well as the overall team competition for the Bears.

The Pride took the first two points in doubles, as Kaeleigh FitzPatrick (South Windsor, Conn.) and Samantha Gevry (Dudley, Mass.) won at #3 doubles, 8-5, followed by Mogelnicki and Beatrice at #2 doubles, 8-4. The Bears picked up their first point of the day at #1 doubles as Von Ruden and Abigail Ramer defeated Kaitlyn Colby (Merrimac, Mass.) and Lauren Mogelnicki (Wethersfield, Conn.), 8-6.

Lauren Mogelnicki quickly responded in singles, cruising to a straight-set victory (6-1, 6-1) at #3 singles to extend Regis's lead to 3-1. Bridgewater State responded with straight-set wins in the second, fourth, and sixth singles positions to pull ahead, 4-3, before the dramatics of the final two matches.

Regis (0-1) hosts Rhode Island College Tuesday, Sept. 7, starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Regis Tennis Courts. Bridgewater State (1-0) hosts Suffolk next Thursday, Sept. 9, beginning at 3:30 p.m. at the Dr. Henry Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts.