SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--Despite missing two starters, Western New England tried to keep pace with visiting Nichols on Monday during an 8-1 loss in Commonwealth Coast Conference women's tennis action at the Volvo Outdoor Courts.

Nichols improves to 5-2 overall and moves into a first-place tie with idle Endicott atop the CCC standings with identical 3-0 conference marks. The Golden Bears, meanwhile, drop to 3-2 overall (0-2 in the conference).

The No. 3 doubles team of seniors Lindsey Brudvig and Ashley Lauricella picked up WNE's lone point with a 9-8 victory (5).

Anna Dyakiv (No. 1 singles/doubles), Cristina Szepanski (No. 1 doubles/No. 3 singles), Lindsay Benoit (No. 2 doubles/singles) and Emma Carey (No. 2 doubles/No. 4 singles) were all multiple winners to lead Nichols.

Doubles Competition
No. 1: Anna Dyakiv/Cristina Szepanski (NC) def. Linda Mustafa/Joeanna Glantz, 8-4

No. 2: Lindsay Benoit/Emma Carey (NC) def. Kelsey Grode/Kelly Byrnes, 8-1

No. 3: Lindsey Brudvig/Ashley Lauricella (WNE) def. Michelle Keklik/Erin Rivers, 9-8 (5)
 
Singles Competition
No. 1: Anna Dyakiv (NC) def. Linda Mustafa, 6-0, 6-0

No. 2: Lindsay Benoit (NC) def. Joeanna Glantz, 6-1, 6-0

No. 3: Cristina Szepanski (NC) def. Lindsey Brudvig, 6-1, 6-1

No. 4: Emma Carey (NC) def. Kelly Byrnes, 6-3, 6-0

No. 5: Katie Malloy (NC) def. Corey St. Louis, 8-6

No. 6: Samantha Rydell (NC) def. Ashley Lauricella, 6-0, 6-1