RUTLAND, Vt. - The Castleton State College women's tennis team won its second-straight North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) East Division title, defeating Lyndon State College 8-1 in the final at Grand Slam Tennis Center.

With the win Castleton improves to 12-1 overall and earns a spot in the NEAC Championship to be held in May versus the champion of the NEAC West Division with a berth in the NCAA National Tournament at stake. Lyndon's season ends at 5-6 overall.

Castleton opened up a 3-0 lead after doubles competitions completed, with Michelle Podnecky (Bridgewater, Vt.) and Kate Bucci (Wakefield, R.I.) earning an 8-3 win in first doubles. Brittni Racine (Leicester, Vt.) and Chelsea Crehan (Essex, Conn.) followed with an 8-1 win in second while Kristen McGinn (Harwinton, Conn.) and  Alyssa Panasci (Goshen, Conn.) earned an 8-2 victory in third.

In singles action Podnecky cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win first flight, while Bucci added a 6-0, 6-1 victory in second. Racine triumphed 6-3, 6-3 in third single before Lyndon got on the board with a victory in fourth singles. Maria Parr (Montpelier, Vt.) battled to a 7-6 (7-5) win in the opening set, and finished with a 6-0 second set win for the Hornet win. Crehan followed with a 6-3, 6-1 win at fifth singles while McGinn finished off the win 6-1, 6-3.

Crehan wraps up an unblemished singles season, going 12-0, while Podnecky and Bucci won all 13 doubles competitions of the season.

NEAC EAST DIVISION ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Johnson State College
Kimberly Blakeman

Lyndon State College
Jenn Falsetti

Castleton State College
Brittni Racine
Kate Bucci - MVP