Southern Maine Sweeps by Thomas 9-0
GORHAM, Maine -- Led by senior Samantha Harden (Turner, Maine/Leavitt Area), the University of Southern Maine women's tennis team opened the 2019 season with a 9-0 non-conference win over visiting Thomas College Friday afternoon at the Gorham High School courts. The match was the season opener for both squads.
Harden combined with sophomore Emma Nassif (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) to post an 8-4 win over the Terrier duo of junior Alexis Nestor (Gardiner, Maine) and freshman Magan Williams (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee) in the number one doubles match. Harden would return to post a straight-sets win over Nestor in the top singles match, and Nassif defeated Williams in straight sets at number two singles.
Senior Gabby Brooks (Palermo, Maine/Messalonskee) and sophomore Ciara Richards (Caribou, Maine) duplicated Harden and Nassif at the opposite end of the ladder. Brooks and Richards downed the Thomas combination of sophomores Makayla Guerette (Pittsfield, Maine/MCI) and Abigail Stevens (Detroit, Maine/MCI) 8-3 in the number three doubles match. Brooks defeated junior Breanna Whitmarsh (Puyallup, Wash.) in the number five singles match, 6-4, 6-1. Richards downed junior Samantha Mercier (Berlin, N.H.) in straight sets at number six.
In the middle doubles match, freshman Regina Harmon (Palermo, Maine/Erskine Academy) combined with freshman Riley Curtis (Brewer, Maine) for an 8-2 over sophomore Cassidy Hamm (Pittsfield, Maine/MCI) and freshman Taylor Davis (Lebanon, Maine/Kennebunk). Harmon would later defeat Davis in the number three singles match in straight sets. USM senior captain Eden Martin (South Portland, Maine) had a 6-4, 6-0 win over Hamm in the number four singles match.
Southern Maine is back on the courts on September 7 (12 p.m.) when it opens Little East Conference play hosting Worcester State University. Thomas is back in action tomorrow afternoon hosting Regis College in a non-conference match at the North Street Recreation Area in Waterville, Maine.
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