Castleton Downs Southern Maine 7-2 in Women's Tennis

            CASTLETON, Vt. -- Senior Samantha Harden (Turner, Maine/Leavitt Area) and sophomore Ciara Richards (Caribou, Maine) posted singles victories, but it would not be enough as the visiting University of Southern Maine Huskies women's tennis team dropped a 7-2 decision against the Castleton University Spartans in Little East Conference action Saturday afternoon.

            The Huskies dropped to 1-9 overall and 0-7 in Little East play.  The Spartans snapped a six-match losing skid with the win, and improved to 3-8 overall and 1-6 in LEC matches.

            Harden posted a 7-5, 6-4 win over senior Megan Nadler (Rutland, Vt.) at the top of the singles ladder.  Richards prevailed over sophomore Megan Hunt (Albany, N.Y.) in the number three match in a super tiebreaker (10-7).  Richards took the opening set 6-2 before Hunt came back to win the second set by the same score to force the super tiebreaker.

            Senior Alexis Curley (Greenwich, N.Y.) and sophomore Grace Sharkey (Purling, N.Y.) got the Spartans off on the right foot in doubles play knocking off Husky senior Tracy Edwards (Cranston, R.I.) and junior Jacqui Hallisey (Gorham, N.H.) with an 8-2 decision at number three.  Nadler and sophomore Regina Marchese followed with an 8-5 win over Harden and Richards at number one.  Senior Emily Miller (Collinsville, Conn.) and junior Aliza Bogner gave the Spartans a sweep of the doubles matches defeating USM seniors Gabby Brooks (Palermo, Maine/Messalonskee) and Eden Martin (South Portland, Maine) in a tiebreaker 9-8 (7-2) at number two.

            Southern Maine returns home on Tuesday (3 p.m.) for its Senior Day match hosting Salem State University.  Castleton will host the University of Massachusetts Boston on Tuesday (4 p.m.).  Both matches are LEC matches.

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