PENNINGTON, NJ – Agnese Ceccarelli (Arezzo, Italy/Liceo Classico Francesco Petrarca) won at both singles and doubles, but the Rider University women's tennis team was edged by Niagara, 4-3, Saturday evening at Hopewell Tennis Club. With the loss, the Broncs conclude their season at 4-14 (2-4 MAAC), while the Purple Eagles improve to 5-12 (2-3 MAAC).

Ceccarelli paired with Andrea Sydow (Las Querenzas, Mexico/Prepa Net ITESM) to defeat Erika Gonzalez and Coral Rodriguez, 6-2, at No. 1 doubles, but the Purple Eagles won at Nos. 2 and 3 to take the doubles point. Leila Koster (Duluth, GA/Rivers Academy) and Samantha Killin (Warwick, NY/Warwick Valley) fell to Elena Mayet and Jaida Borg at No. 2 and Daniela Naves (Alvarado, Mexico/Club Med Academies) and Avery Oppenheim (Marietta, GA/Walton/Georgia Connections) were defeated by Enrica Favaron and Mercedes Velasco at No. 3, both by 7-5 margins.

Four of the six singles flights went to a third set, with two being decided in third-set tiebreakers. The teams split a pair of straight-sets victories, with the Purple Eagles' Mayet defeating Koster, 6-2, 6-0, at No. 1, while Naves got past Gonzalez, 7-5, 6-3, at No. 3. Ceccarelli defeated Rodriguez, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6, at No. 2, while Sydow fell to Velasco, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3, at No. 4. Killin got past Favaron, 2-6, 6-0, 6-3, at No. 6, but the Purple Eagles took the match at No. 5, as Borg edged Jett Coetzee (Miami, FL/Miami Palmetto Senior), 7-6, 3-6, 7-6.

"It came down to a ball that hit the net on match point. It just didn't go our way," said Rider Head Coach Tom Battaglia. "It was an incredible match that I hope will be a learning experience and make us hungry for next season. I know they are really sad right now, but I'm so proud of their effort. This team had no conference wins and we finished with two."