A Senior Salute

BRYANT WOMEN'S TENNIS DEFEATS MANHATTAN 4-0

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Taking the doubles point to start the day, the Bryant University women's team rolled through singles play en route to the Bulldogs' 10th victory of the season, downing visiting Manhattan College 4-0 on Senior Day Saturday.

After honoring seniors Morganne Downing (Cherry Hills Village, Colo.), Katie Francazio (Cranston, R.I.) and Valeria Couto-Cuervo (Guaynabo, Puerto Rico), it was a pair of newcomers getting things started for the Bulldogs in doubles play. 

Sophomore Lucy Bird (Hamilton, New Zealand) and freshman Stephanie Smyers (Pittsburgh, Pa.) downed Hilary Valenzuela 8-4 at No. 2 doubles.  Moments later, the sophomore tandem of Claudia Hidalgo (Guayaquil, Ecuador) and Irma Rodriguez-Lockwood (Guaynabo, P.R.) followed with an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles to clinch the point to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the match.

In singles play, it was all Bryant as Bird, Smyers, and freshman May Vickers (Montrose, Colo.) rolled to quick straight-set victories to close out the Jaspers and send the Bulldogs onto victory.  Bird rolled to a 6-2, 6-3 win over Valenzuela while Smyers turned in another strong performance at No. 3 singles, defeating Christina Puelo, 6-1, 6-2.  Vickers also turned in a strong performance in singles play, defeating Stephanie Trao 6-1, 6-0 to improve her record to 11-4 at No. 4 singles this season.

Bryant will close out the season next Tuesday with a non-conference match at Hartford.   

Apr 16, 2011 at Smithfield, RI
(Bryant Tennis Courts)

Singles

1. Claudia Hidalgo (BRYW) vs. Lili Johnson (MC) 6-4, 4-1, unfinished
2. Lucy Bird (BRYW) def. Hilary Valenzuela (MC) 6-2, 6-3
3. Stephanie Smyers (BRYW) def. Christina Puelo (MC) 6-1, 6-2
4. May Vickers (BRYW) def. Stephanie Trao (MC) 6-1, 6-0
5. Valeria Couto Cuervo (BRYW) vs. Christina Ton (MC) 6-2, 4-1, unfinished
6. Katie Francazio (BRYW) vs. Brianna Turano (MC) 4-5, unfinished 

Doubles

1. Johnson/ Turano (MC) def. Couto Cuervo/ Vickers (BRYW) 8-4
2. Bird/ Smyers (BRYW) def. Valenzuela/ Trao (MC) 8-4
3. Hidalgo/I. Rodriguez-Lockwood (BRYW) def. Ton/Megan Maffei (MC) 8-4