LANCASTER, PA - Franklin & Marshall College swept the doubles matches and captured five of the six singles matches as the Diplomats rolled to an 8-1 win over Washington College in women's tennis in Centennial Conference action.
F&M, ranked #9 in the April 15 Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III South Atlantic Region rankings, rolled through the doubles by scores of 8-4.
In singles, Washington's Allison Daciek edged Kate Gaskins (So., Richmond, VA/Mills Goodwin) 6-4, 7-5 to account for the Shorewomen's sole victory in the match.
Washington, ranked #15 in the April ITA rankings, could not overcome the Diplomats' lineup as Marie Papalia (Sr., Chatham, NJ/Chatham) dropped Blake Leeser 7-6 (5), 6-1 at #2, Barbara Bee (So., Millersville, PA/Penn Manor) handled Beth Foster 6-4, 6-1 at #3, Lizzy Denenberg (Jr., Wilmington, DE/Sanford School) defeated Sam Halpin 6-2, 6-1 at #4, Christina Henkel (Fr., Hatboro, PA/Hatboro-Horsham) managed Erika Kayukawa 7-5, 6-0 at #5 and Lauren Hakkinen (So., Doylestown, PA/CB East) rallied to down Ryoko Sawada 6-4, 6-7, 10-3 at #6.
The victory keeps Franklin & Marshall in contention for the 2005 Centennial Conference women's tennis title as the Diplomats are one match off the pace of Swarthmore College.
If the Diplomats can defeat Swarthmore, F&M will earn a share of the championship with Muhlenberg and the Garnet.
Franklin & Marshall (10-2, 6-1 Centennial Conference) will continue the season on April 20 at Swarthmore College. Match time is set for 4:00 p.m.
F&M 8, Washington 1
Doubles
(1) Bee & Gaskins (F&M) def. Halpin & Daciek (W), 8-4
(2) Denenberg & Jenna Ishkanian (F&M) def. Foster & Leeser (W), 8-4
(3) Hakkinen & Papalia (F&M) def. Lyndsey Beidle & Sawada (W), 8-4
Singles
(1) Katie Gaskins (F&M) def. Allison Daciek (W), 6-4, 7-5
(2) Marie Papalia (F&M) def. Blake Leeser (W), 7-6 (5), 6-1
(3) Barbara Bee (F&M) def. Beth Foster (W), 6-4, 6-1
(4) Lizzy Denenberg (F&M) def. Sam Halpin (W), 6-2, 6-1
(5) Christina Henkel (F&M) def. Erika Kayukawa (W), 7-5, 6-0
(6) Lauren Hakkinen (F&M) def. Ryoko Sawada (W), 6-4, 6-7 (1), (10-3)
