Box Score

SWARTHMORE, Pa. – Rebecca Bellick won her third consecutive singles match to highlight the Franklin & Marshall women's tennis team's trip to No. 18 Swarthmore on Saturday. In a matchup of two perennial playoff teams, the nationally-ranked Garnet came away with the 6-1 victory during the Diplomats' (4-4, 0-1 CC) first Centennial Conference match of the season.

Bellick secured the Diplomats' team point with her fourth singles win of the spring as she improved to a perfect 2-0 at the No. 6 spot in the lineup. Bellick needed one extra game during the 7-5 opening set win before closing the straight-set victory with a 6-2 second set. F&M nearly added a second point as Natalie Untermeyer – who is the team leader in wins – forced a third set tiebreaker after winning her opening set by a 6-3 score. Her opponent won by that same score in the second set before claiming a 10-4 win during the tiebreaker.

The nationally-ranked Garnet started the day with a 1-0 lead after sweeping the doubles action. The pairing of Amelia Squires and Sophia Rhazali were locked in a four-all battle at No. 3 doubles before the Garnet broke and held service during the final two games. Swarthmore took the Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 5 singles matches in straight sets to secure the team victory. Sahara Ahmad came the closest taking a set among that group for F&M, falling 7-5 in her second set at No. 2 singles.

Women's tennis will continue its busy weekend tomorrow as the Diplomats travel to Salisbury for a 1 p.m. opening serve against the host Sea Gulls.

#18 Swarthmore 6, Franklin & Marshall 1

Doubles

1: Lola Diaz.Nathalie Williams (SWAT) def. Jenna Harrison/Mackenzie Sherman (F&M); 6-2
2: Erin Ll/Kathleen Shiffer (SWAT) def. Sahara Ahmad/Natalie Untermeyer (F&M); 6-2
3: Ella Strickler/Riya Rao (SWAT) def. Amelia Squires/Sophia Rhazali (F&M); 6-4

Singles
1: Nathalie Williams (SWAT) def. Jenna Harrison (F&M); 6-0, 6-1
2: Erin Ll (SWAT) def. Sahara Ahmad (F&M); 6-2, 7-5
3: Lola Diaz (SWAT) def. Mackenzie Sherman (F&M); 6-4, 6-3
4: Kathleen Shiffer (SWAT) def. Natalie Untermeyer (F&M); 3-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-4)
5: Ella Strickler (SWAT) def. Sophia Rhazali (F&M); 6-2, 6-3
6: Rebecca Bellick (F&M) def. Lisa Messier (SWAT); 7-5, 6-2