Alexander, Deronjic, Smilovich all win singles matches

RINDGE, N.H. (October 3, 2010) – Juniors Drew Alexander (Long Beach, N.Y.) and Suzana Deronjic (Melrose, Mass.) and senior Lauren Smilovich (Meriden, Conn.) all won their singles matches on Sunday afternoon, but the Franklin Pierce University women's tennis team dropped a 6-3 decision to Saint Rose in Northeast-10 Conference play at Franklin Pierce. With the win, Saint Rose improves to 3-2 (3-2 Northeast-10), while Franklin Pierce falls to 0-4 (0-4 Northeast-10) with the loss.

Deronjic had one of the strongest showings of the day for the Ravens, as she powered to a 6-4, 6-3 win over Saint Rose junior Erin Reeg at third singles. Meanwhile, Smilovich fought through a first set tiebreak to post a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 win over senior Kimberly Schacher at fourth singles. In fifth singles, it was Alexander who picked up another point for the Ravens, as she dropped the first set, but took the next two decisively to post a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Saint Rose junior Stephanie Belz.

Franklin Pierce freshman Natasha McCarthy (Rindge, N.H.) was very close to taking another pair of points for the Ravens, as she narrowly fell twice on the afternoon. At first doubles, she teamed with junior Kaitlin Krolikowski (Massapequa, N.Y.), and the duo was nipped, 9-7, by Reeg and senior Missy Leighton. McCarthy squared off with Leighton at second singles and won the first set, 7-5, but was swept 6-0 in the second and eventually dropped the tiebreak, 10-6.

Three different Saint Rose players won in both singles and doubles play on Sunday, led by sophomore Jennifer Crego who was dominant in posting a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles. Earlier in the day, she teamed with Schacher to pick up an 8-3 win at second doubles.

The Ravens return to action on Saturday, Oct. 9, when they remain home to host Assumption in a Northeast-10 Conference match at 2 p.m.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).

Results
Doubles
1. Missy Leighton/Erin Reeg (STR) def. Kaitlin Krolikowski/Natasha McCarthy (FPU), 9-7
2. Jennifer Crego/Kimberly Schacher (STR) def. Lauren Smilovich/Drew Alexander (FPU), 8-3
3. Stephanie Belz/Stephanie Wilhelm (STR) def. Suzana Deronjic/Mariama Bonetti (FPU), 8-0

Singles
1. Crego (STR) def. Krolikowski (FPU), 6-0, 6-0
2. Leighton (STR) def. McCarthy (FPU), 5-7, 6-0, 10-6 (tiebreak)
3. Deronjic (FPU) def. Reeg (STR), 6-4, 6-3
4. Smilovich (FPU) def. Schacher (STR), 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
5. Alexander (FPU) def. Belz (STR), 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
6. Wilhelm (STR) def. Tina Bonelli (FPU), 6-0, 6-1