CASTLETON, Vt. – Husson University avenged a loss earlier this season to Johnson State College, as the third-seeded Eagles defeated the second-seeded Badgers, 6-3, Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the 2016 NEAC East Division Women's Tennis Championship Tournament held at the Castleton Tennis Courts.

Husson got off to a strong start, taking the first two points as Sarah Smith and Charlotte Bednarz defeated Kali Covell and Grace Page at number two doubles, 8-1, followed by an 8-5 victory at number one doubles for Meridith Blessard and Katie Pratt over Katerina Van Woerkom and Nicole Monick.

In a doubles set that took close to two hours, Johnson State's number three doubles team of Jana Somero and Mikayla Messier prevailed over Kelsey Pelletier and Marisa Brown, 9-7.  The Badgers would tie the match at 2-2 when Van Woerkom defeated Blessard in the number one singles position in straight sets (6-4, 6-2).

The two teams exchanged the next two points, as Smith defeated Page at number two singles (6-4, 6-1) before Somero defeated Pratt at number three singles, also in straight sets (6-1, 6-2). Husson would retake the lead when Bednarz earned a straight-set victory over Covell at number four singles (6-3, 6-0).

The Eagles clinched the match at number six singles when Brown closed out a straight-set victory over Jordan Miller (6-2, 6-3). The number five singles match was completed soon after as Pelletier rallied from a second-set deficit to defeat Monick in straight sets (6-3, 6-4).

Husson (7-2) moves on to face top seed Colby-Sawyer in the finals of the 2016 NEAC East Division Women's Tennis Tournament Saturday afternoon at the Castleton Tennis Courts.