DiOrio, Geocaris win singles titles during Wheaton Invitational

NORTON, MA- Wheaton College women's tennis junior Sarah Geocaris (Newport Beach, CA/Sage Hill School) won the second-singles title at the Wheaton Invitational for the third straight year, and sophomore teammate Allesandra DiOrio (Cumberland, RI/Lincoln School) topped the third singles field on Sunday at the Clark Tennis Courts.

The invitational drew Brandeis University and Roger Williams University and Division II Stonehill College. Stonehill qualified for last year's NCAA Tournament and sits third in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) Division II East poll, while Brandeis is ninth in the ITA's Division III Northeast rankings. The Judges previously handed Wheaton, which is 10th in the Northeast, one of only two setbacks it has suffered in 17 decisions this school year.

Geocaris picked up a quick 6-1, 6-0 victory in the opening round of second singles before notching a convincing 6-3, 6-2 triumph in the finals during a match-up of regionally-ranked players, as the 23rd-ranked Geocaris handily downed 20th-ranked junior Rachel Rosman (Bonita Springs, FL/Estero) of Brandeis.

DiOrio corralled a 6-3, 6-4 victory to open play in the third singles bracket before fighting off Stonehill sophomore Lindsay Simmons (Wethersfield, CT/Wethersfield), 6-0, 4-6, 10-7 to win the flight. After falling in three sets to Simmons in the first round, junior Ellen Van Faasen (Manchester, MA/Manchester Essex Regional) won the consolation, 6-4, 6-0.

In the top singles flight, junior Catherine Teague (Manchester, NH/Central) cruised past Stonehill junior Lindsey Herchel (Hampden, MA/Minnechaug Regional), 6-1, 6-0 before dropping a marathon 3-6, 6-3, 9-11 decision against Brandeis freshman Faith Broderick (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville).

Wheaton entered three doubles tandems into a pair of flights, with senior Katherine Knies (Purdys, NY/North Salem) and sophomore Rosalyn Chesky (South Hadley, MA/Wilbraham & Monson Academy) finding the most success. During their first-ever match as partners, Chesky and Knies downed a Roger Williams duo, 8-1 in the first round at first doubles before falling by an 8-3 count against a Stonehill tandem in the final.

Also at top doubles, freshmen Jesse Boggis (Hopkinton, MA/Hopkinton) and Maraike Crom (Bremen, Germany/International School of Bremen) suffered a first-round setback before falling 9-8 in their consolation match. Senior Caralina O'Connell (Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon) and freshman Julia Parmakian (Gorham, ME/Gorham) were edged 9-8 in the opening round during the second doubles flight before falling in the consolation championship.

Wheaton returns to dual match action with its regular season finale on Sunday, April 11, by hosting Colby-Sawyer College at 11:00 a.m.