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In a title match down to the wire, Bulldogs are edged out, 4-3, by Knights, Sunday afternoon at Mercer County Park
Posted: Apr 24, 2016

In a title match down to the wire, Bulldogs are edged out, 4-3, by Knights, Sunday afternoon at Mercer County Park

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SMITHFIELD, R.I. – All tied at three, the Northeast Conference Title came down to the third set in No. 3 singles, where No. 2 Fairleigh Dickinson's Liza Rachenko edged out junior Marion Bouillin (San Diego, Calif.), 6-4, helping the Knights find their fourth championship in five years as they defeated the No. 1 Bulldogs, 4-3, Sunday afternoon in West Windsor.

The Bulldogs (10-9, 4-0 NEC)started off on top, capturing the doubles point, winning in No. 3 and No. 2 doubles, as No. 1 doubles went unfinished. The Bryant duo of sophomores Linnea Sjoberg (Stockholm, Sweden) and Stefanie Arroyo (Gurabo, Puerto Rico) eased by the Knights' (8-6, 1-1) Rachenko and Sabrina Helm, 6-0, while sophomores Ashanti Campfield (Stratford, Conn.) and Nina Luiggi (Nottingham, England) sealed the doubles point, winning 6-4 over Nicole Chis and Katarina Pavlovic.

Arroyo quickly made it 2-0 in Bryant's favor, after the sophomore defeated Helm, 6-0, 6-0, in No. 6 singles. In No. 4 singles Shreya Pasricha defeated Luiggi, 6-3, 6-0, to pull the Knights within one, 2-1. Quickly following, Chis's dominant play in the second set in No. 1 singles helped her trumped Brown, 6-3, 6-0, for the No. 2 seed's tying point, 2-2.

Pavlovic worked past Campfield in No. 5 singles, as she won, 6-4, 6-4, to clinch the Knights' 3-2 advantage. Shortly after, Sjoberg tied the match at three apiece, as she took down Gisela Castany in three games, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, in No. 2 singles.

The match came down to the third set in No. 3 singles between Bouillin and Rachenko. Bouillin won the first set, 6-4, before Rachenko forced a third after taking the second, 6-1. Facing a 5-2 deficit, Boullin battled back to within two, 5-3. With the tension rising and the excitement in the atmosphere building, Boullin responded the pressure, pulling within one, 5-4, but Rachenko continued to plug away breaking Boullin down in the following game, winning 6-4 to seal the Knights' victory, booking Fairleigh Dickinson a trip to the NCAA Tournament.