Rodgers Leads Way Again, Women's Tennis Notches 6-3 Win Over AIC
Ravens win despite losses in both first singles and first doubles
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Rodgers posted a dominant, 6-1, 6-0 win at fourth singles, in addition to being a part of an 8-2 win at second doubles, on Wednesday afternoon against AIC.MILFORD, N.H. (April 10, 2013) – The Franklin Pierce University women's tennis team fought back after losses at both first singles and second singles on Wednesday evening to post a 6-3 win over American International in non-conference, neutral-site play at Hampshire Hills Sports and Fitness Club. Sophomore Leslie Rodgers (Westminster, Md.), senior Melissa Cohen (Queens, N.Y.) and sophomore Christine Boulanger (East Hampton, Conn.) all won twice each for Franklin Pierce.
With the win, Franklin Pierce falls to 4-9 (2-9 Northeast-10), while American International falls to 0-12 (0-10 Northeast-10). The match was originally scheduled to be played at Franklin Pierce, but was moved to an indoor facility due to inclement weather.
Franklin Pierce took two of the three available points in doubles play to start the match. At second doubles, freshman Kirby Melbourne (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.) and Rodgers rolled to an 8-2 victory over senior Martine Turgeon and graduate student Jessica Hall. Meanwhile, at third doubles, Cohen and Boulanger whitewashed AIC junior Edna Olowo and senior Christine Bourret, 8-0.
The Yellow Jackets tied the match at 3-3 with solid wins at both first and second singles. At first singles, freshman Manon Janin dispatched junior Natasha McCarthy (Rindge, N.H.), 6-2, 6-2, while freshman Ana Paula Simoes took care of Melbourne at second singles, 6-0, 6-1.
With the match evened, no AIC player would capture four games in a set the rest of the afternoon, as Franklin Pierce stormed through the final four singles matches to take the 6-3 win. At third singles, sophomore Emily Parrett (Amherst, N.H.) bested Turgeon, 6-3, 6-1. At fourth singles, Rodgers dropped only one game in bettering Hall, 6-1, 6-0. At fifth singles, in the pro set format, Cohen picked up an 8-3 win over sophomore Jasmine Byrd. At sixth singles, Boulanger put away senior Ally Trinier, 6-1, 6-2.
The Ravens return to the court on Sunday, April 14, when they travel to Saint Michael's to wrap up the season with a Northeast-10 Conference match at 11 a.m. in Colchester, Vt.
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). Fans wishing to purchase Franklin Pierce tennis apparel can do so at the Department of Athletics' brand new online store (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store).