Newbury Edges Worcester State in Opener

Worcester, MA --- Freshman Jennifer Swafford (Merrimack, NH) won the fifth singles while she also teamed with classmate Julie MacLeod (Buffalo, NY) to win third doubles as she helped lead Newbury to a 5-4 victory this afternoon over Worcester State College in women's tennis action.

The contest opened with the Nighthawks taking first, second and fifth singles with victories by senior Jillian Wojtowicz (Palmer, MA), Kristen Conners (Riverside, RI) and Swafford before Lancers stormed right back as Albana Xhemollori (Worcester, MA) and senior Lauren Cain (Framingham, MA) registered victories in third and sixth singles, respectively.

Worcester State then went ahead 4-3 as they added triumphs in the first and second doubles, but Newbury soon knotted the score after they tied things up with an 8-3 win in the third doubles.

The ninth and deciding matchup then became a showdown between WSC freshman Jacqueline Shaw (Uxbridge, MA) and junior Stephanie Valentine (Pleasant Valley, CA). Valentine took the first set, 6-3, before Shaw recorded a close 7-6 victory in the second, but it was Valentine who prevailed and won the deciding set 7-5.

Worcester State (0-1) looks for its first victory with a home match against Plymouth State on Tuesday while Newbury (1-0) will host Pine Manor on Wednesday. Both matches will start at 3:30 PM.

Game story submitted by:  Steven Miller, Jr. - SID, Worcester State College