Women's tennis advances to NEC Championship behind 4-1 win over Saint Francis U.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – For the first time in program history, the Bryant University women's tennis team will have the opportunity to play for the Northeast Conference Championship behind a 4-1 victory over Saint Francis U. in the NEC Semifinals, Saturday afternoon in West Windsor, N.J.

The second-seeded Bulldogs cruised to the 4-1 victory of the Red Flash to advance to the NEC Championship Game for the first time since joining the Division I ranks in 2008, earning the right to play top-seeded LIU Brooklyn on Sunday (9 a.m.) for the league title.

The Black and Gold got things going early on, capturing the doubles point behind near-clean sweeps at the top two spots. At No. 2 doubles, senior Rosie Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) and freshman Ashanti Campfield (Stratford, Conn.) blanked Dani Gryckiewicz and Alex Sachs, 8-0, before sophomore tandem Marion Bouillin (San Diego, Calif.) and Ryan Brown (Austin, Texas) captured the point for Bryant with an 8-2 win over Rafaela Pinizza and Shivani Patel in the No. 1 spot.

In singles action, the Bulldogs continued to role with Bouillin increasing the lead to 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Patel in No. 2 singles. Campfield quickly followed suit with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Lucy Jasso to bring Bryant within a single point of clinching the match.

After the Red Flash picked up the point in No. 3 singles, Brown quickly shut the door and secure the championship berth for the Black and Gold defeating Panizza, 6-3, 6-3, in the top spot.

Bryant will battle #1 seed LIU Brooklyn in the NEC Title Game on Sunday at 9 a.m. in West Windsor, N.J.