West Hartford, CT - The University of Hartford women's tennis team hosted the College of the Holy Cross on Wednesday evening in its first dual match of the 2007 season. The Crusaders posted a 7-0 win. The match was a welcome home of sorts for first year head coach Mike Raymond, a Rockville High School graduate.

The Crusaders picked up the doubles point with wins in the second and third doubles flights. Jessica Ruggles and Hali Dorfman fell in the third doubles position by an 8-0 margin, with Nikki Haynal and Michelle Tafur falling in the second doubles flight by an 8-1 margin.

The Crusaders first singles points came in the third and fourth positions. Ivette Konopka defeated Nikki Haynal in the third singles position by 6-0 sets with Michelle Tafur falling to Hailee Lange in the fourth position by two 6-0 sets.

The Hawks best matches came in the first and second singles spots. Raquel Casino took on Kristen Meahl in the first singles position, forcing Meahl to come from behind in the first set to take a 7-5 victory. Meahl then posted a 6-2 win in the second set. Kasey Michels fought the toughest battle of the match for the Hawks in the second position against Meg Moran. Moran took home the victory by scores of 6-4, 6-7, (5-7), (11-9).

Jessica Ruggles and Hali Dorfman competed in the fifth and sixth singles positions respectively. Ruggles fell to Paige Brown by scores of 6-1, 6-0 and Dorfman dropped a shortened match to Meg Manahan by a score of 8-5.

The women's tennis team will next compete in a double header with the men's team against Siena on October 7 in Loudonville, NY at 10:00 a.m.