October 18, 2012

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University women's tennis team will be making its fifth straight appearance in the Little East Conference Tournament Championship Match as the top-seeded Bears downed number four seed Plymouth State University, 5-0, on Thursday afternoon at the Rosen Memorial Tennis Courts in Bridgewater.

Bridgewater will host either second seeded UMass Dartmouth or number three seed Salem State University in the title match on Saturday afternoon at one, while Plymouth ends the season with a record of 8-7. The Bears defeated both UMass and Salem during the regular season, 8-1 and 7-2, respectively.

Bridgewater swept the doubles matches to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the visiting Panthers. Freshman Alison Vautrin (Somerset, Mass.) and sophomore Rachael Eramo (Rowley, Mass.) teamed for an 8-2 victory at third doubles, while seniors Ashley Pereira (Assonet, Mass.) and Brittney Hislop (Burley, Wash.) posted an 8-2 decision at the second flight. The Bears' top flight tandem of junior Jenna Williamson (Ludlow, Mass.) and senior Lauren Hopp (Dartmouth, Mass.) completed the doubles sweep with an 8-4 triumph.

In singles play, sophomore Melissa Flynn (Stoneham, Mass.) won in straight sets at the sixth flight, 6-0, 6-1, while Hopp secured the match with a 6-2, 6-1 straight set win at number five. The Bears were up a set in each of the remaining four matches that were left unfinished. In postseason tournament play, a match is stopped once a team records five points.

Notes: Bridgewater is 1-3 in the conference championship match since the Little East began using the tournament format in 2008...The Bears captured the tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament during the 2010 season.