EC Opens With a Win

Gorham, ME--Despite the rain, the women's tennis team played their 2004 season opener against the University of Southern Maine, and came away with a convincing 8-1 victory. Playing number one singles was junior co-captain Blythe Langley. After a hard fought loss in singles, Langley regrouped in doubles with co-captain Lauren Gibbons, and defeated USM's Katie Welch and Marlena Crandall (8-6).

Also winning in singles were Carli Connors (6-1, 6-3), Gibbons (6-3, 6-4) Brianne Cogan (6-0, 6-2), Stephanie Branch (6-3, 6-1) and Nicole Leveille (4-6, 7-6, 10-8). Leveille competed in the hardest fought match at \#6 singles. She lost the first set 4-6, but turned the match in her favor by winning the second set in a tiebreaker and then winning the second tiebreaker for the win. For freshman Branch and Leveille, this marks their first collegiate victory.

Connors and Cogan teamed up for doubles, and defeated USM, 8-1. In third doubles, Branch and Neveille defeated USM, 8-6. "The women trained hard during the pre-season and their efforts paid off with their solid strokes and gutsy determination," Head Coach Gale Bacon said.

The Gulls are back in action this Saturday, when they travel to Eastern Nazarene College for a 1pm start. The match marks the first Commonwealth Coast Conference contest for EC in the 2004 season.