GORHAM, Maine -- The Thomas College Terriers rallied from a 2-1 deficit by taking four of six singles points for a 5-4 victory over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in a non-conference women's tennis match Thursday afternoon at the Gorham High School courts.
The match lasted 4 ½ hours before the Terriers prevailed in their season opener. The Huskies dropped to 1-1 on the season.
Southern Maine jumped out to a 2-1 lead by taking the number two and three doubles matches. Sophomore Liz Martin (Naugatuck, Conn./Woodland Regional) and junior captain Courtney Aldrich (Lewiston, Maine) combined for an 8-1 win a number two while sophomore Emily Collins (St. David, Maine/Madawaska) and junior Emily Estes (Gorham, Maine) took an 8-1 decision at number three.
Senior Jessica Bowen (Lewiston, Maine) and sophomore Lindsay Allen (Jay, Maine/Spruce Mountain) earned the Terriers lone doubles point with a hard-fought 8-6 win at number one.
The Terriers rallied by taking the top four singles matches behind Bowen, Allen, senior Dalia Williams (Boston, Mass./Josiah Quincy Upper School) and rookie Olivia Mora (Surry, Maine/Ellsworth) to win the match.
Bowen took a 6-2, 6-2 decision over USM junior Sarah Hill (Topsham, Maine/Mt. Ararat) in the top singles match. Allen battled from behind to defeat Aldrich 5-7, 6-1,6-4 at number two. Williams edged Martin 6-1, 7-5 at number three, and Mora needed three sets to defeat Estes 6-3, 1-6, 7-5.
Collins was the Huskies' lone double winner earning a singles point with a straight-sets win over sophomore Logan Bruneau (Madison, Maine) at number six. Sophomore Katie Quinn (Hollis, Maine/Bonny Eagle) picked up the Huskies other singles point at number five.
Southern Maine opens its 2014 Little East Conference schedule on Sunday (1:00 p.m.) hosting Plymouth State University. Thomas will play a pair on matches on Saturday (12:00 p.m.) facing Colby-Sawyer College in a North Atlantic Conference match before facing Colby College. Both matches will be played at Colby.
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