BETHLEHEM, Pa. — No. 8 Lafayette earned a 4-0 win over No. 9 Holy Cross in the first round of the 2021 Patriot League Women’s Tennis Championship on Thursday.
 
The Leopards earned the first point of the match with two victories in doubles action. At No. 2, Lafayette’s Cecelia Lesnick and Samantha Snyder took a 6-1 win over Holy Cross’ Lauren Chilton and Hanna Beck, while Melanie Sparhawk and Ruthie Wilson nabbed a 6-0 win at No. 3 doubles against the Crusaders’ Alexandra Smith and Meg O’Melveny.

In singles, Lesnick defeated Holy Cross’ Chilton 6-0, 6-2 on court four followed by a 6-1, 6-2 victory on court three from Jessica Siegel.

Sparhawk sealed the win for Lafayette with a 6-1, 6-2 No. 5 win over Beck.

The Leopards will now face top-seeded Boston University in the quarterfinals Friday at 8:30 a.m.
 
Results
DOUBLES (Order of finish: 3, 2)
1. Maureen McCormack/Halle DeNardo (LAF) vs. Maddie DeNucci/Melissa Caiola (HC): 3-3 unfinished
2. Cecelia Lesnick/Samantha Snyder (LAF) def. Lauren Chilton/Hanna Beck (HC): 6-1
3. Melanie Sparhawk/Ruthie Wilson (LAF) def. Alexandra Smith/Meg O’Melveny (HC): 6-0
 
SINGLES (Order of finish: 4, 3, 5)
1. Maureen McCormack (LAF) vs. Maddie DeNucci (HC): 6-4, 1-3 unfinished
2. Samantha Snyder (LAF) vs. Alexandra Smith (HC): 6-3, 5-0 unfinished
3. Jessica Siegel (LAF) def. Melissa Caiola (HC): 6-0, 6-1
4. Cecelia Lesnick (LAF) def. Lauren Chilton (HC): 6-0, 6-2
5. Melanie Sparhawk (LAF) def. Hanna Beck (HC): 6-1, 6-2
6. Halle DeNardo (LAF) vs. Meg O’Melveny (HC): 6-3, 2-1 unfinished

2021 Patriot League Women's Tennis Championship Schedule
Thursday, April 29 – First Round
No. 8 Lafayette 4, vs. No. 9 Holy Cross 0

Friday, April 30 – Quarterfinals
No. 1 Boston University vs. No. 8 Lafayette, 8:30 a.m. – Live Scoring
No. 4 Lehigh vs. No. 5 Bucknell, 11 a.m. – Live Scoring
No. 3 Navy vs. No. 6 Colgate, 1:30 p.m. – Live Scoring
No. 2 Army West Point vs. No. 7 Loyola Maryland, 4 p.m. – Live Scoring

Saturday, May 1 – Semifinals
Winner of No. 1/8/9 vs. Winner of No. 4/5, 10 a.m.
Winner of No. 3/6 vs. Winner of No. 2/7, 2 p.m.

Sunday, May 2 – Championship
Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner, Noon
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education