North Andover, Mass. - A rematch of the 2014 Northeast-10 Conference semifinals went the way of the Adelphi University women's tennis team on Saturday, as the Panthers rallied from behind to defeat the Warriors of Merrimack College, 5-4.

The doubles portion of the match belonged to Adelphi, with the Panthers winning two of the three matches to establish an early lead. Elizabeth Kallenberg and Samantha Perri continued their strong early season form together, dropping just one game at No. 2 to put the Brown and Gold in front. From a break down in the set, the No. 3 doubles team of Rebecca Fakas and Elena Nastasi reeled off five games in a row, turning a 3-4 deficit into an 8-4 set win and 2-0 match lead. The home team got on the board at No. 1 doubles, however, as the team of Grace Messina and Chealsey Giatrellis edged Stefani Lineva and Karen Serina in a tiebreak.

In singles, the play started out favoring the Blue and Gold. Messina won her 26th consecutive NE-10 singles victories with a straight-set win over Lineva at No. 1 and Nastasi was forced to retire while trailing by a set at No. 6 to give Merrimack the lead in the match. Giatrelis lengthed the hosts' lead by defeating Kallenberg in three sets to put the home team one win away from the victory. From there, the Panthers' comeback began, as Serina and Fakas each secured two-set wins in singles to pull the Panthers even at 4-4. Following Serina's first collegiate singles win, freshman classmate Perri rallied from a set down at No. 5 singles to secure the Brown and Gold's triumph.

"This was a solid victory for us against a strong conference team," head coach Michael Misiti said. "We want to continue to build confidence for tight matches like this throughout the season."

Doubles
1. Grace Messina/Chealsey Giatrelis (MER) def. Stefani Lineva  / Karen Serina (ADE) 9-8 (7-4)
2. Elizabeth Kallenberg / Samantha Perri (ADE) def. Danielle Dunn / Mana Seifaei (MER) 8-1
3. Rebecca Fakas / Elena Nastasi (ADE) def. Mackenzie Blair/Lauren Persson (MER) 8-4

Singles
1. Grace Messina (MER) def. Stefani Lineva (ADE) 6-1, 6-2
2. Chealsey Giatrelis (MER) def. Elizabeth Kallenberg (ADE) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
3. Karen Serina (ADE) def. Lauren Persson (MER) 6-3, 6-2
4. Rebecca Fakas (ADE) def. Danielle Dunn (MER) 6-1, 6-2
5. Samantha Perri (ADE) def. Mana Seifaei (MER) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
6. Mackenzie Blair (MER) def. Elena Nastasi (ADE) 7-5 retired

The Panthers return to action on Saturday, September 12 when they head to Southern New Hampshire for an NE-10 match.