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BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England rallied from an early deficit after doubles to pull out a 5-2 women's tennis victory against the University of Southern Maine at Blue Cyclone Complex on Thursday afternoon (Sep. 18).

The Nor'easters (4-1) bounced back quickly as the singles got underway, with Sydney Pelletier at #6 (6-2, 6-0), Andie Lamontagne at #4 (6-0, 6-0), and Alyssa Fritschka at #5 (6-0, 6-1) notching three points to slide the hosts in front, 3-1.

At #1 singles, Madeline Frank cruised to a 6-0 opening set, but trailed 1-4 and 2-5 in the second. Frank then held serve twice and broke serve twice to flip the advantage (6-5), before winning one more service game -- at love -- to claim the set (7-5) and the match and secure the all-important fourth team point to seal the overall result for UNE. When Frank finished, the Huskies were otherwise one game away from a point on another court, and a couple games from forcing a third set on the other remaining court.

Sofia Salcedo Ladaga entered the lineup for the first time this season for UNE at #3 singles and turned around a 1-4 deficit to take the first set. After dropping the second frame, Salcedo Ladaga controlled a 10-point tiebreaker for the positive result (7-5, 1-6, 1-0 [10-2]).

Down one set and one break at #2 singles was Nora Hill, but consecutive games got it back on track in the second set (2-3). Later, Hill held serve to knot things at 6-all, fell behind early in a 7-point tiebreaker, but then rattled off five unanswered points to jump in front and seize the set. Things with USM's Payton Thibodeau were level at 7-7 in the 10-point breaker, and Thibodeau managed to get the next three, including a 24-shot rally to end it (6-2, 6-7 [4-7], 1-0 [10-7]).

Back at the beginning of the day, Pelletier and Fritschka were efficient in taking #3 doubles by a 6-1 margin for UNE. Frank and Hill were ahead at #1, 5-4, only to come up on the short end of the outcome and leave the doubles clincher in the hands of the #2 pairs. Salcedo Ladaga and Lamontagne battled from 1-5 down to tie things at 5-all, but couldn't quite complete the comeback bid as Southern Maine (1-4) earned the overall point.

As a team, UNE is unbeaten in Biddeford after three outings so far this year.

The Nor'easters stay at home for a key Conference of New England (CNE) match with the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on Saturday at 1 p.m.