Franklin & Marshall Splits Season-Opening Matches

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Franklin & Marshall women’s tennis team opened its 2010 spring season with non-conference match-ups against St. Ambrose and Shorter. The Diplomats cruised past St. Ambrose 8-1, but fell to Shorter 9-0 a day later. F&M move to 1-1 in the spring and 2-1 on the year.

In the Diplomats’ first competition of the spring, the squad tallied wins in all of its singles matches. Danielle Weiner nabbed a win by a 6-2, 6-1 margin over Rachel Sarafin. Dana Russo beat the Bowlers’ Janelle Bayer 6-2, 6-2, while Katie Ertel and Vicky Balonik each defeated their competition by scores of 6-1, 6-2.

Shannon Littlefield and Ertel teamed up to slide past Melanie Blazevic and Jessica Eberhardt 8-2. The doubles team of Weiner and Meredith Lackey garnered an 8-3 win over Amanda Gomez and Mary Nodland.

Just a day later, the Diplomats were upended by the Hawks of Shorter. Valeri Harteg gave Shorter’s Carolina Brigneti a challenging second set, but was edged 7-5 to give the Hawks a win.

The doubles team of Balonik and Ertel hung tough with Shorter’s Quincey Mason and Giuliana Luconi, ultimately falling 8-4.

Franklin & Marshall continue spring break play on March 18.

Franklin & Marshall 8, St. Ambrose 1

Singles Competition

1. Meredith Lackey (F&M) def.Amanda Gomez (SA) 4-6,6-1, 1-0(5)

2. Danielle Weiner (F&M) def. Rachel Sarafin (SA) 6-2,6-1

3. Dana Russo (F&M) def. Janelle Bayer (SA) 6-2,6-2

4. Valeri Harteg (F&M) def. Mary Nodland (SA) 7-5,6-2

5. Katie Ertel (F&M) def. Melanie Blazevic (SA) 6-1,6-2

6. Vicky Balonik (F&M) def. Jessica Eberhardt (SA) 6-1,6-2 

Doubles Competition

1. Danielle Weiner/Meredith Lackey (F&M) def. Amanda Gomez/Mary Nodland (SA) 8-3

2. Rachel Sarafin/Janelle Bayer (SA) def. Valeri Harteg/Dana Russo (F&M) 8-4

3. Shannon Littlefield/Katie Ertel (F&M) def. Melanie Blazevic/Jessica Eberhardt (SA) 8-2 

Match Notes

Franklin & Marshall 2-0

St. Ambrose 6-8

Franklin & Marshall 0, Shorter 9

Singles Competition

1. Michaela Tingets (SC) def. Danielle Weiner (F&M) 6-1, 6-1

2. Emmanuelle Beaucondrey (SC) def. Meredith Lackey (F&M) 6-1, 6-3

3. Denielle Monteith (SC) def. Dana Russo (F&M) 6-1, 6-1

4. Nienke van Staveren (SC) def. Katie Ertel (F&M) 6-0, 6-0

5. Carolina Brigneti (SC) def. Valeri Harteg (F&M) 6-0, 7-5

6. Quincey Mason (SC) def. Shannon Littlefield (F&M) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles Competition

1. Emmanuelle Beaucondrey/Danielle Monteith (SC) def. Danielle Weiner/Meredith Lackey (F&M) 8-0

2. Nienke van Staveren/ Carolina Brigneti (SC) def. Valeri Harteg/Dana Russo (F&M) 6-1, 6-1

3. Quincey Mason/Giuliana Luconi (SC) def. Vicky Balonik/Katie Ertel (F&M) 8-4

Match Notes

Franklin & Marshall 2-1

Shorter 7-2