LEWISTON, Maine (March 5, 2011) – In a match that lasted more than seven hours, the Bates College women's tennis team topped Mount Holyoke College 7-2 this afternoon at the Merrill Indoor Gymnasium. After sweeping the three doubles matches, the Bobcats sealed things with four singles victories.

Mount Holyoke's wins came from first years Maya Sayarath and Eman Malik. After splitting the first two sets of her number three match against Ashley Brunk, Sayarath prevailed 7-4 in a third set tiebreaker. Meanwhile, Malik cruised to a 6-2, 7-5 triumph in her collegiate debut at the sixth slot.

Senior Elise Marifian jumped out to an early lead in her number one match against Jacquelyn Holmes before falling 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. Meanwhile, sophomore Nahrhee Han was edged 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in her number two contest against Meg Anderson.

Bates (2-2) came out on top in all three doubles matches to gain control. Anderson and Nicole Russell downed Han and senior Natalie Hsiang 8-6 at the top of the lineup, while Kristen Doerer and Erika Blauth topped Sayarath and Marifian 8-5 at the second spot. In the number three matchup, Holmes and Jenna Burke raced past first year AnnElizabeth Konkel and junior Heather Richardson by a score of 8-1.

Blauth and Russell went on to secure straight sets singles victories for the Bobcats. Blauth topped Richardson at the fourth slot, and Russell downed Konkel at the fifth position.

Mount Holyoke (3-8, 3-4 NEWMAC) will be off until Thursday, March 24, when it hosts American International College at 5:00 p.m.