FLUSHING, N.Y. ?  Opening up NEC conference play in the spring championship season, the Monmouth women's tennis team was blanked by the Long Island Blackbirds, 7-0 on Monday evening in Flushing, N.Y. Playing at the famous USTA Tennis Center, the Hawks dropped all six singles matches and all three doubles matches by a hefty margin.

Defending two-time NEC player of the week, Selma Babic led the Blackbirds defeating Monmouth senior Sarah Ragan (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Township) at first singles, 6-0, 6-1.  Fellow classmate Kaitlin Gallagher (North Haledon, N.J./Immaculate Heart Academy) was bounced by LIU's Ashley Harvey at second singles, 6-0, 6-1.

At third singles, freshman Jessica Slinger (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) dropped to the Blackbirds' H'Ann Johnson, 6-0, 6-2. Sophomore Katie Tierney (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) fell in fourth singles 6-0, 6-1 while junior Diane Washer (Ogdensburg, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional) was defeated at fifth singles by the Blackbirds' Stephanie Elie, 6-0, 6-1.

Rounding out singles action for the Blue and White, freshman Britney Dupuis (Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck) had her winning streak snapped when she dropped her sixth singles game, 6-0, 6-1.

The Hawks were shut out of points in doubles action with both first and second doubles duos losing their matches with duplicate scores of 8-2.

Monmouth returns to the courts this Saturday, April 4th, when they travel to NEC rival Wagner for a 10:30 a.m. match.