(courtesy of UMass Dartmouth Sports Information)

UMass Dartmouth Sweeps by Southern Maine

            DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- Four players combined for wins in both singles and doubles action as the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth swept by the University of Southern Maine for a 9-0 Little East Conference women's tennis match decision Friday afternoon on the UMD Courts.

            The win lifts the Corsairs overall mark to 6-3, and 2-2 in conference play.  The Huskies dropped their fifth straight to slip to 1-5 overall and 0-4 in LEC matches.

            UMD freshman Lauren Morgart (Weston, Mass.) and senior Jaime Fastino (Rehoboth, Mass.) each triumphed in super tiebreakers at the top two singles spots and teamed up for an 8-2 win at number one doubles for the host Corsairs.  Morgart prevailed over USM senior Samantha Harden (Turner, Maine/Leavitt Area) 6-2, 4-6 (10-7) while Fastino defeated sophomore Emma Nassif (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) 5-7, 6-1 (10-7).  Morgart and Fastino combined to win the number one doubles match 8-2

            The Corsairs received straight-set singles victories at the final four positions from juniors Michelle and Rachel Aftandilian (Watertown, Mass.), senior Melanie Wong (Somerset, Mass.) and sophomore Jackie Bokis (Spencer, Mass.).

            Michelle Aftandilian and classmate Jordan Martin (Taunton, Mass.) claimed an 8-1 decision at number two doubles for UMass Dartmouth, while Rachel Aftandilian combined with senior Natasha Shiku (North Grafton, Mass.) for an 8-4 triumph at the number three doubles spot.

            Southern Maine hosts Bridgewater State University in Little East Conference match on Saturday (12 p.m.) afternoon at the Gorham High School courts.  UMass Dartmouth hosts Plymouth State in a Little East Conference match on Saturday (1 p.m.) on the UMD Courts.

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