Tennis finishes just short of LEC Championship
Brendan Coughlin
Sports Editor
After finishing 7-1 in the Little East Conference during the season, Bridgewater State University’s women’s tennis team was awarded the number-two seed in the four team Conference tournament.
Alison Vautrin is the lone senior and clear leader on a team that is comprised of all freshman and sophomores outside of the captain.
“Being captain, I feel major responsibility to keep the chemistry of the team very positive,” said Vautrin. “The chemistry starts the first day of preseason to the last week of playoffs.”
The senior Vautrin said, “It’s very important to have positive chemistry. Positive chemistry also helps the underclassmen adapt to college, with the team being a good outlet.”
In a 5-3 win over #3 Plymouth State, BSU solidified their spot in the conference championship. The Lady Bears led 2-1 after doubles matches. Vautrin paired up with her teammate, sophomore Olivia Lakes, for an 8-4 doubles victory.
A sophomore combination of Alison Scagnelli and Bojana Roman. Scagnelli and Roman also finished the match with straight set wins to secure the victory.
In singles play, freshman Hayley Anderson (San Antonio, TX), won a straight set match. Anderson was named the LEC Rookie of the Week three different times throughout the 2015 campaign.
UMass Dartmouth took out the other top opponent in the LEC, Rhode Island College. The championship match was set with #2 BSU and #4 UMass.
In the LEC championship match UMass upset BSU to claim the title, 5-4. Bridgewater was ahead 2-1 following the doubles sets, getting wins from Alisha Silva and Anderson, as well as Vautrin and Lakes.
The loss leaves Bridgewater’s women’s tennis season, that included a 5-game winning streak, a thing of the past with a final record of 10-6, including 7-1 LEC.
“Our team hit a bump with a couple of hardships off the court and I think we came together closer than we ever were because of this,” said Vautrin. “We were told to stay positive and keep smiling. We did so and our play reflected our relaxed manner.”
The freshman Anderson, along with her doubles teammate Silva, were honored after the season by being named to the 2015 Little East Conference Women’s Tennis All Conference Team, determined by voting of all nine head coaches in the league.
Brendan Coughlin is the Sports Editor of the Comment.
