Gulls Defeat Gordon, 5-4, in CCC Semis

Oct. 29, 2003

Beverly, MA- The women's tennis team topped Gordon yesterday, 5-3, to advance to the finals of the CCC playoffs on Saturday against Salve Regina in Newport, RI (1 pm start). The Gulls set the tone early in the match by winning at 2nd and 3rd doubles.

In singles play, Endicott won in straight sets in the 4th-6th spots. Third singles player Lauren Gibbons split sets and did not complete her match as darkness fell. By that point, however, Endicott, which heads into Saturday's match with a 13-1 overall record, had clinched the match. It was the second year in a row that the team defeated Gordon in the semis of the CCC playoffs.

Carli Conners and Brianne Cogan overpowered their opponents at 3rd doubles, winning 8-0. The 2nd doubles team of Melissa Marrone and Tessy Garcia earned the Gulls' second point with an 8-5 victory. The 1st doubles team of Lauren Gibbons and Blythe Langley lost 3-8 to a team that had gone undefeated in conference play. "I was pleased with how we played in doubles today," said coach Mark Herlihy. "In all three matches, we played aggressively. Doubles will be key against Salve. If we can control the net, we should do fine."

Cogan earned the Gulls' third point with a 6-1, 6-0 win at 5th singles. Conners then won her 6th singles match, 7-6, 6-2. Garcia clinched the match for Endicott with a 6-3, 6-1 win at 4th singles.

The depth of the team is to credit for the success of the Gulls as they have consistently been able to win at both 2nd and 3rd doubles as well as 4th, 5th and 6th singles. The Gulls will look to this depth Saturday versus Salve Regina.