PROVIDENCE – After nearly three weeks' worth of delays, the Bryant University women's tennis team finally wrapped up a dual match victory against Providence College, picking up the suspended contest where both teams left off last Tuesday before rain forced a seven-day break, as the Bulldogs went on to down the Friars by a 5-2 margin Tuesday afternoon.
Both teams had originally been slated to face off on Sept. 25, but rain on that date had pushed the match up until last Tuesday, Oct. 4. Both teams agreed to start with singles last week, but the match was delayed again after rain showers forced a suspension with the Bulldogs leading, 3-1, at the time.
Bryant needed just one more singles victory to clinch the entire match last week, and they did not have to wait long to get the guaranteed 'W', as sophomore Stephanie Smyers (Pittsburgh, Pa.) pulled off the win in the No. 5 singles slot to push the Bulldogs over the top. She resumed the match serving at 5-5 in the second set, having already dropped the first set and looking to complete a comeback win. She held serve and then earned a break-point win to take the second set, 7-5. That forced a decisive third set, which Smyers won with relative ease, 6-3, for the individual victory.
Also finishing her suspended singles match was junior Claudia Hidalgo (Guayaquil, Ecuador), who had taken the first set last week before the seven-day hiatus. She had led, 3-2, in the second set, but PC's Marisela Aviles-Duron came all the way back to win the second set, 6-3. In the third set, both competitors fought hard, pushing the score to a 5-5 tie, but Aviles-Duron earned a break-point win and took the third set, 7-5.
Moving onto doubles, the Bulldogs won two of three matches to take the point, with Smyers pairing up with sophomore Marcela Brandao (Santo Andre, Brzail) to earn an 8-6, come-from-behind victory after trailing their match, 6-2. Also posting a win were sophomore May Vickers (Montrose, Colo.) and freshman Devlin-Ann Ammendola (Massapequa, N.Y.), who cruised to an 8-3 drubbing of Taylor Ahlborn and Caitlin Foley. The other Bryant pair was Hidalgo and junior Lucy Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand), who fell, 8-2, to Aviles-Duron and Maria Clara Bernardez.
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
Last Tuesday, the Black and Gold saw strong singles results from Vickers and Amendola, who both cruised to victories in their singles matches. Vickers took down Karen Ramirez, 6-1; 6-2 before Ammendola earned an easy 6-1; 6-1 victory over Taylor Corder.
Following those two was Brandao, who fought through a tough first set before dominating the second set in a 6-4; 6-1 win over Foley. That match was the last full one completed before the suspension of the remaining two singles matches.
Also competing in singles play last week was Bird, who fell to Bernardez, 6-1; 6-2.
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Next up, the Bulldogs will participate in the New England Championships on Sunday, Oct. 16. After that, they will wrap up the fall season taking on Siena College at the Ludlow Tennis Club in Ludlow, Mass., on Saturday, Oct. 22.
For continuing coverage of Bryant University women's tennis, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and be sure to follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.
SINGLES
No. 1 - Marisela Aviles-Duron (PC) def.
Claudia Hidalgo 6-7 (3), 6-3, 7-5
No. 2 - Maria Clara Bernardez (PC) def.
Lucy Bird 6-1, 6-2
No. 3 -
Mary Vickers def. Karen Ramirez (PC) 6-1, 6-2
No. 4 -
Devlin-Ann Ammendola def. Taylor Corder (PC) 6-1, 6-1
No. 5 -
Stephanie Smyers def. Taylor Ahlborn (PC) 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
No. 6 -
Marcela Bradao def. Caitlin Foley (PC) 6-4, 6-1
DOUBLES
No. 1 - Marisela Aviles-Duron/Maria Clara Bernardez (PC) def.
Claudia Hidalgo/Lucy Bird, 8-2
No. 2 -
Stephanie Smyers/Marcela Bradao def. Karen Ramirez/Taylor Corder (PC), 8-6
No. 3 -
May Vickers/Devlin-Ann Ammendola def. Taylor Ahlborn/Caitlin Foley (PC), 8-3
