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            PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- Junior Laura Donovan (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) earned a hard-fought, 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 1-0 (10-2) win at second singles to help the Plymouth State University Panthers come from behind to post a 6-3 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference women's tennis match Saturday afternoon at the P.E. Center Courts.

            The match was the season opener for the Panthers.  The Huskies fall to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.

            Trailing 2-1 after the three doubles matches, Plymouth State won five of six singles matches to claim the victory over the Huskies.  Sophomore Sara Burke (Barrington, R.I.) led PSU from the top of the order with a 6-4, 6-1 victory at first singles over USM freshman Rachel Miller (Portland, Maine/Deering).  Donovan defeated Husky junior Katelyn Ouellette (Lewiston, Maine) at number two singles.

            Freshman Emily Boutin (Old Town, Maine) earned USM's lone singles point at number six singles, defeating PSU freshman Chelsea Thibeault (Manchester, N.H./Central) 6-3, 6-3.

            Ouellette and sophomore Tegan Talbot (Topsham, Maine/Mt. Ararat), and senior Erica Robertson (St. Albans, Vt./Bellows Free Academy) and freshman Sarah Moody (Scarborough, Maine), each earned a point in doubles action respectively.  Ouellette and Talbot defeated Burke and freshman Molly Heartfield (Dorset, Vt./Burr & Burton) 8-2 in first doubles.  Robertson and Moody edged Donovan and sophomore Elizabeth Silsby (Dorset, Vt./Burr & Burton) 9-7 at third doubles.

            Southern Maine returns to action on Thursday (3:30 p.m.) at Gordon College.  Plymouth State hosts Worcester State University on Tuesday (4:00 p.m.).

-cac-