MANCHESTER, N.H. – Northeast-10 regular season champion Merrimack College concluded a perfect run through the league with a 7-2 women's tennis triumph over Southern New Hampshire University Thursday afternoon.  The Warriors upped their record to 13-4 and 12-0 in the NE-10, while the Penmen are now 12-7 and 8-4 in the league.

Merrimack opened up a 2-1 lead after doubles.  Yolanda Green (Springfield, Mass.) and Allison Valentine (New Hartford, Conn.) earned a point for SNHU by posting a 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles.  At No. 1 doubles, Grace and Shakee Messina rallied for a 8-6 win over Diana Vamvakitis (Wading River, N.Y.) and Sarah Schöllgen (Meerbusch, Germany), while Chealsey Giatrelis and Kara Hole were 8-3 winners over Jamie Hann (Westhampton, N.Y.) and Kirsten Jean (Bedford, N.H.).

Singles play featured a battle of the two unbeaten No. 1 players in the NE-10 in Grace Messina and Vamvakitis, with Messina prevailing 6-1, 6-4.  Green picked up SNHU's lone point in singles, posting a 9-8 (10-8) win at No. 5.

Southern New Hampshire has earned the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Northeast-10 Championship and will travel to fourth-seeded Saint Michael's College for a first-round match on Wednesday, April 23.  The Purple Knights edged the Penmen 5-4 on Sunday, April 13.

Prior to the match, the Penmen honored lone senior Jean.  A five-time Northeast-10 All-Conference performer, Jean is second in program history in doubles wins with 69 and fifth in singles victories with 54.

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Merrimack 7, So. New Hampshire 2
04/17/14 at Manchester, N.H. (SNHU Courts)