BEVERLY, Mass. – The first-seeded Endicott women's tennis team defeated third-seeded Gordon, 4-2, in the Conference of New England (CNE) Tournament Championship on Saturday afternoon at the South Campus Tennis Courts.
In doubles, Sophia Eicke (Berlin, Germany) and Gabby Mazzeo (Bethel, Conn.) earned a 6-0 victory at No. 2 but the Fighting Scots picked up victories at No. 1 and No. 3 to win the doubles point and take a 1-0 lead in the match.
To start singles, Eicke got the Gulls on the board with a commanding 6-4, 6-0 victory at No. 4.
Then at No. 1, Mazzeo added another point for the Blue and Green, earning a 6-2, 6-4 win. Caroline Sutliffe (Duxbury, Mass.) followed suit to put Endicott up 3-1, battling to a 7-5 first-set win, before dominating the second set, 6-0.
Emily Leclerc (Manchester, N.H.) clinched the championship for Endicott with a come-from-behind victory at No. 3. After dropping the opening set, Leclerc rallied to take the next two sets, 6-2, 6-3, securing the title for the Gulls.
Leclerc was named the CNE Tournament Most Outstanding Player for her efforts throughout the entire playoffs.
TOP QUOTE
"I am so pumped! They played so well and probably the best they can and some," said Endicott women's tennis head coach Dejan Stankovic. "We really had to dig deep today."
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Today's match was played to decision due to CNE Tournament rules.
- Endicott captured its first ever CNE Championship and the 11th conference championship in program history.
- Today was the first time that both Endicott and Gordon squared off in the conference championship match.
- Eicke finished the season with an undefeated 11-0 record in singles.
- First three-set victory of the season for Leclerc.