April 17, 2009

Box Score

QUEENS, N.Y. - The Marist women's tennis team advanced to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) semifinals on Friday morning as the team defeated the Siena Saints, 4-2 in the quarterfinal round. The fourth-seeded Red Foxes improved to 6-10 on the season and it was their second triumph over the Saints this spring. Four of the Marist starters were winners in both singles and doubles on the day.

Marist opened the match with victories at first and third doubles. At first doubles, freshman Erin McCarthy (Salem, N.J.) and senior Mirelva Colon (Bayamon, Puerto Rico) defeated Sarah Mayer and Lauren Moy, 8-2. The win for the Red Foxes' pairing was their fourth straight over an eight day period. In third doubles, sophomores Retta Byron (Scottsdale, Ariz.) and Jeannie Lukin (Kinderhook, N.Y.) teamed up for just the second time this season. The tandem improved to 1-1 on the year as they shutout Jessica Asselin and Lauren Garbade, 8-0.

In singles, just five of the six matches were played to completion as Marist got wins from Colon, Kayla O'Donovan (Lynbrook, N.Y.) and Lukin at third, fifth and sixth singles respectively.

Colon took a straight set victory from Moy, 6-4, 6-3, while O'Donovan flip-flopped set scores at fifth singles with Nicole Ross. O'Donovan prevailed, 6-3, 6-4. Lukin rounded out the singles victories for the Red Foxes in the sixth spot in the lineup. She defeated Dinka Keric, 6-2, 6-0.

At fourth singles, Byron's match was stopped after the outcome of the match was decided. Byron was up a set, 6-3 and tied 5-5 in the second before play was stopped.

Marist will play the semifinal round of the 2009 MAAC Championships at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning. The Red Foxes will meet with the top-seeded Niagara Purple Eagles, who defeated eighth-seeded Rider, 7-0 on Friday morning.