For Immediate Release

April 18, 2012

Reporting provided by So. New Hampshrie and Saint Michael's Athletics Communications Staffs

With matching 5-0 victories on Wednesday afternoon, third-seeded Southern New Hampshire University and fourth-seeded Saint Michael's College both advanced to the semifinals of the 2012 Northeast-10 Conference Women's Tennis Championship, which will take place on Friday, April 20.

#3 So. New Hampshire 5, #6 Merrimack 0 - BOX
Manchester, N.H. - So. New Hampshire posted a 5-0 victory over sixth-seeded Merrimack College in the first round of the Northeast-10 Women's Tennis Championship Wednesday afternoon.  The Penmen, who advance to the NE-10 semifinals for the fifth straight season, improve to 16-5 and will play second-seeded Adelphi University on Long Island Friday at 2:00 p.m.  The Warriors see their season come to a close at 9-14.

Adelphi handed So. New Hampshire its only loss of the regular season in Northeast-10 play, recording a 5-4 victory on March 31.

So. New Hampshire jumped out to a 3-0 lead after doubles play.  Alena Mukdaprakorn and Diana Vamvakitis (pictured) were 8-3 winners at No. 1, while Jamie Hann and Samantha Jean were 8-4 winners at No. 2, while Kirsten Jean and Amanda Albuquerque notched an 8-0 shutout at No. 3.

Vamvakitis gave the Penmen their first point in singles with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 2 before Hann clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph at No. 4.

#4 Saint Michael's 5, #5 Bentley 0 - BOX
Colchester, Vt. - For the third straight year, fourth-seeded Saint Michael's blanked fifth-seeded Bentley University, 5-0, during a Northeast-10 Conference Championship first-round match, as the Purple Knights advanced in the postseason on Wednesday at the SMC Tennis Courts.

The Purple and Gold, which ranks ninth in the latest NCAA East region rankings, improves to 13-7, while the Falcons finish the season 9-12. The Purple Knights travel to top-seeded Stonehill College for a semifinal match on Friday at 2:00 p.m., as they aim to advance to their third championship match since 2006-07. Since the NE-10 switched to a team tournament postseason format in 1999-2000, the Purple Knights are the only team to qualify for the semifinals each season over the past 13 years.

The Purple Knights swept through the doubles matches to take a 3-0 lead heading into singles play. Senior Eileen Mullowney and junior Emily Magee claimed an 8-3 triumph at the top spot, while senior Emily Ogilvy and freshman Caroline Toutoungi won by an identical score at No. 3. Junior Alex Dalton and freshman Caroline Martin paired together in the second slot for an 8-4 victory.

Both Purple Knights who finished their singles matches claimed straight-set victories, as Magee earned a 6-2, 6-0 triumph at No. 1, while Dalton picked up a 6-2, 6-3 win in the second slot. Junior Jean-Marie McGrath and freshman Hannah Benoit were in the middle of their matches when Saint Michael's clinched the team victory.

The Northeast-10 is an association of 16 NCAA Division II colleges and universities located in New England and New York that are committed to supporting balanced academic and athletic opportunities for more than 6,500 student-athletes. Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in Conference championships in 23 sports, making the NE-10 the largest DII conference in the country. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the Northeast-10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.

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