GORHAM, Maine – Senior Sarah Burke (Barrington, R.I.) and junior Molly Heartfield (Dorset, Vt./Burr & Burton) held off a late charge from juniors Mary Moran (Windham, Maine) and Emily Boutin (Old Town) to earn a 9-7 win at first doubles and help lead the Plymouth State University Panthers to an 8-1 win over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a Little East Conference women's tennis match Saturday afternoon in Gorham, Maine.
Burke and Heartfield's win at first doubles helped the Panthers secure all three of the doubles points to start the match en route to a season-opening win and a 1-0 record overall and in the conference. Southern Maine falls to 1-1 and 0-1 in the LEC, playing its second match in as many days.
Burke and Heartfield jumped out to a 5-0 lead over Moran and Boutin before the USM duo stormed back; however, the Panthers' tandem secured the point. Freshmen Andra Dion (Ashland, N.H./Plymouth Regional) and Nitsa Ioannides (El Cajon, Calif./Valhalla) also earned a tough 9-8 (4) win over USM freshman Courtney Aldrich (Lewiston, Maine) and sophomore Molly Morrill (Litchfield, Maine/Oak Hill).
With a 3-0 lead headed into singles action, Plymouth State won five out of the six singles points. Aldrich was the lone USM player to score a point, winning her first collegiate singles match 6-3, 6-1 at third singles over Dion.
Southern Maine hosts non-conference opponent Castleton State on Friday (4:00 p.m.). Plymouth State travels to Bridgewater State on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) for a Little East Conference match.
–cac–
