Worcester, MA --- Senior Brooke Michanczyk (Middletown, CT) and freshman Shelby Jankins (W. Brookfield, MA) both won their respective matches in singles play to help lead fourth-seeded Worcester State to a 5-2 win over #5 Southern Maine in the quarterfinal round of the Little East Conference Women's Tennis Tournament this evening.

With the win the Lancers (8-7) move on to the semifinals to face-off against top-seeded Bridgewater State on Thursday on the road at 2 PM. Tonight's game marked the first-ever postseason tournament home game for the Blue and Gold who were also victorious for the first LEC Tournament win in program history.

Despite the setback, the Huskies wrap up their season with a winning record at 8-7.

Jankins paired with sophomore Megan Shepard (Middletown, CT) for the 8-5 win at first doubles before a rain shower delayed the finish of the final two matches at pairs play.

After a two hour and 55 minute delay, junior teammates Danielle Candelieri (Chelmsford, MA) and Taylor Tomasetti (Waterford, CT) quickly dispatched of freshman Katie Quinn (Hollis, ME) and freshman Liz Martin (Naugatuck, CT), 8-4.

Michanczyk and senior Laura Sarkis (W. Springfield, MA) then followed with the 8-5 win to up their mark to 10-4 at third doubles on the campaign.  

Southern Maine got back two points at the start of singles to make the score 3-2 when senior Mary Moran (Windham, ME) bested Candelieri, 6-0 and 6-1, as the top seed while sophomore Courtney Aldrich (Lewiston, ME) earned the 6-4 and 6-4 victories in the third slot over Shepard.

But Jankins won her matchup at second singles 7-5 and 7-5 over sophomore Jenna Willey (Windham, ME) and Michanczyk dispatched Quinn, 6-2 and 6-2, for the match-ending tally.

Jankins played two smart sets against Willey for the point as she withstood a furious four point rally in the first before she rallied from three down for the victory.

With her two victories tonight, Michanczyk is now alone in second place on the all-time scoring list with 53 points – just two off the top spot and with 27 career doubles wins she moves into a tie for the second slot with Lee Mooney (1983-84, 86).

Shepard also became the 18th women's tennis player to join the 25 point club as she now has 16 career victories in pairs play.

Photo Courtesy of Worcester State University Office of Public Relations and Marketing

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