COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Plattsburgh State women's tennis team beat Division II Saint Michael's on Friday afternoon, winning a nail-biter against the Purple Knights 4-3. The result came down to the day's final match, with first-year Ava Carey (Nanuet, N.Y./Nanuet) taking home the win to give Plattsburgh the victory.
 
With the win, the Cardinals move to 5-2 on the season and will next play on Saturday, Sept. 23 against Farmingdale. Before the match, Plattsburgh will honor its four seniors for Senior Day: Sarah Benowitz (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown North), Jacqueline Svantner (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South), Nicole Svantner (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South), and Samantha Svantner (West Nyack, N.Y./Clarkstown South). Saint Michael's falls to 1-4 with the loss and next will take on Franklin Pierce in conference action on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
 
Playing by NCAA Division II rules in lieu of Saint Michael's being the home team, only one point was awarded for the three doubles matches to the overall score. Also, the match is decided in six, similar to singles play, rather than eight. Whoever takes the best of the three doubles matches is awarded the point. 
 
Plattsburgh began doubles play and the match with a win at No. 3 doubles, where Jacqueline Svantner and Hallie Hurwitz (Beekmantown, N.Y./Beekmantown) won 6-3. The Cardinals fell in No. 2 doubles, leaving for an exciting conclusion to the No. 1 singles match with Nicole and Samantha Svantner. The pair were able to squeeze out an exciting 7-5 win, earning an important point to the overall score. 
 
In singles play, the Purple Knights earned the win at No. 1 singles to pull even in the overall score, before Nicole Svantner earned a No. 2 singles victory 6-2, 6-1. Jacklin Mitchell (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Peru) continued to be unbeaten in singles play, winning 6-0, 6-2 at No. 6 singles, putting Plattsburgh up 3-1. However, in No. 3 and No. 4 singles, Saint Michael's picked up wins in close matches, with Benowitz falling 5-7, 6-7 in No. 3 singles, and Jacqueline Svantner losing in three sets. Coming down to the No. 5 singles match, Carey won two close sets, 6-4, 6-4, giving herself and Plattsburgh a big win.