NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Trailing 2-1 after doubles play, top-seeded Merrimack College won four of the first five doubles matches completed en route to a 5-3 win over No. 5 seed Southern New Hampshire University in the semifinals of the 2014 Northeast-10 Women's Tennis Championship Friday at North Andover High School.  The Warriors, who advance to host second-seeded Adelphi University in Sunday's final, improve to 14-4, while the Penmen see their season come to a close at 13-8.

Southern New Hampshire jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles.  Merrimack got on the board first as Kara Hole and Chealsey Giatrelis posted an 8-0 win at No. 2.  Yolanda Green (Springfield, Mass.) and Allison Valentine (New Hartford, Conn.) were 8-5 winners for SNHU at No. 3 to tie the match.  Diana Vamvakitis (Wading River, N.Y.) and Sarah Schöllgen (Meerbusch, Germany) recorded an 8-4 win at No. 1 over Grace and Shakee Messina.

Merrimack took the first two singles points, as Hole won at No. 4 and Shakee Messina won at No. 3 to give the Warriors a 3-2 lead.  Schöllgen won at No. 2 to tie the match 3-3, but Alyx Barnes won at No. 6 and Grace Messina at No. 1 to advance the hosts.

Southern New Hampshire sees a string of four straight Northeast-10 championship final appearances snapped, as well as  a string of five consecutive NCAA appearances.

For the latest on Southern New Hampshire University athletics, follow the Penmen via social media on Twitter (@snhupenmen), Facebook (www.facebook.com/snhupenmen), Youtube (www.youtube.com/snhupenmen) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/snhupenmen).

Merrimack 5, So. New Hampshire 3
4/25/2014 at North Andover, Mass. (North Andover High)