WNEU Sneaks Past Women's Tennis in Close Call, 4-3

THE BASICS 
Lesley University - 3
Western New England Univ. - 4

Records: 
Lesley Lynx (0-2, 0-0 NAC)
WNEU Bears (1-0, 0-0 CNE)

Location: Cambridge, Mass. – Beren Tennis Center

Date: Friday, September 6, 2024

THE LEAD – Despite strong play by the top of the lineup in both singles and doubles, Lesley University fell to visiting Western New England University in non-conference women's tennis action on Friday afternoon at the Beren Tennis Center by a final score of 4-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Sophomore Mary Osucha (Knoxville, Tenn.) and junior Jessica Legendre (Leesville, La.) picked up wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles action. Osucha teamed up with classmate Lucy Boyce (Marshfield, Mass.) in first doubles play for a 6-3 win while Legendre paired with sophomore Ariane Ramos (Webster, Mass.) for a 6-3 victory in second doubles action to secure the point for the Lynx in doubles play.
• The Bears, however, controlled the action in No. 3 through No. 6 singles, collecting all four points to secure the 4-3 win in the new ITA/NCAA seven-point scoring system.
• WNEU first-year Malina Dinis opened the match with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Boyce, earning her first collegiate victory of her career. Gabrielle Tirkot picked up where she left off from last season, earning a straight sweep over Ramos, winning 6-0, 6-0 in the fourth singles spot. 
• Gianna Arace, the lone senior for Western New England, followed suit, picking up a 6-0, 6-0 win over Tali-Anna Sutherland (Bridgeport, Conn.) to pick up WNE's third win of the match. WNE would finish off with a retirement victory after Kayla Ledoux would also win her first collegiate victory of her career, winning 6-0 in the first set before the Lynx sixth position was forced to retire.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Osucha remains undefeated in her career in doubles play with a 13-0 record.
• The doubles win for Ramos was the first doubles victory of her collegiate career.

UP NEXT

• Lesley welcomes Thomas College on Sunday, September 8 at 2:00 PM for their North Atlantic Conference (NAC) opener. The Lynx were tabbed No. 2 in the 2024 Women's Tennis NAC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Golden Bears will take on Curry College on Tuesday, September 17 at 3:30 PM to open CNE play.

*Some release content provided courtesy of WNEU Athletic Communications Office