Trio wins in both doubles and singles play

RINDGE, N.H. (April 2, 2011) – Freshman Natasha McCarthy (Rindge, N.H.), senior Lauren Smilovich (Meriden, Conn.) and junior Drew Alexander (Long Beach, N.Y.) were all victorious in both doubles and singles play on Saturday afternoon to lead the Franklin Pierce University women's tennis team to an 8-1 home win over American International.

With the win, Franklin Pierce improves to 1-7 (1-7 Northeast-10), while American International falls to 0-7 (0-6 Northeast-10).

Franklin Pierce took all three points in doubles competition, as both first and second doubles won by 8-1 scores, while AIC defaulted at third doubles. At first doubles, McCarthy and junior Kaitlin Krolikowski (Massapequa, N.Y.) triumphed over AIC juniors Amanda McLean and Angie Rassias, while Alexander and Smilovich defeated junior Jamie Roy and sophomore Martine Turgeon at second doubles.

It was much of the same in singles play, as Franklin Pierce picked up five of the six points, including another default at sixth singles. The Ravens won at second, third, fourth and fifth singles, led by McCarthy's 6-1, 6-1 victory over McLean at second singles. Smilovich defeated Roy, 8-2, in the pro-set format at third singles, while Alexander and junior Nikki Chalifoux (Lebanon, Conn.) posted 8-0 victories over Turgeon and junior Taila de Souza at third and fourth singles, respectively, also in the pro-set format.

Rassias picked up the only point of the day for AIC in first singles in a duel with Krolikowski. Krolikowski took the first set, 6-3, before Rassias answered with a 6-4 win in the second set. The two went back-and-forth in the 10-point tiebreaker, with Rassias posting the 10-8 win to take the match.

The Ravens return to the court on Wednesday, April 6, when they host Saint Anselm in a Northeast-10 Conference match at 3 p.m. in Rindge.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).

Results
Doubles
1. Kaitlin Krolikowski/Natasha McCarthy (FPU) def. Amanda McLean/Angie Rassias (AIC), 8-1
2. Drew Alexander/Lauren Smilovich (FPU) def. Jamie Roy/Martine Turgeon (AIC), 8-1
3. Nikki Chalifoux/Amy Carpentier (FPU) win by default

Singles
1. Rassias (AIC) def. Krolikowski (FPU), 3-6, 6-4, 10-8 (tiebreak)
2. McCarthy (FPU) def. McLean (AIC), 6-1, 6-1
3. Smilovich (FPU) def. Roy (AIC), 8-2 (pro set)
4. Alexander (FPU) def. Turgeon (AIC), 8-0 (pro set)
5. Chalifoux (FPU) def. Taila de Souza (AIC), 8-0 (pro set)
6. Tina Bonelli (FPU) wins by default