Champions! Women’s Tennis Knocks off Stony Brook 4-2 for Program’s First America East Crown
AMERICA EAST RECAP
COLUMBIA, MD.- University at Albany women’s tennis (14-7) used a come-from-behind team effort and a gutsy No. 6 singles performance to down Stony Brook 4-2 for the 2016 America East title on Sunday afternoon. Head coach Gordon Graham & co., won its first Division I conference championship.
“This is one of the most amazing college teams I’ve even been associated with in my 34 years of coaching,” said Graham. “The obstacles this team overcame not only today, but over the season would have floored anyone. This group has been on a mission since September.”
UAlbany started the match on its heels, dropping the doubles point to go down 1-0. After warming up for singles competition, the Purple & Gold regrouped to take all six opening sets. Ana Glumac sunk her opponent in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) to even the score to 1-1 at the No. 5 singles spot.
Freshman Jovana Kenic followed suit in No. 1 singles, dominating Stony Brook’s Yana Nikolaeva 6-3, 6-2 to give the Great Danes a 2-1 advantage. At No. 3, Paulina Torres made short work in her match, sealing UAlbany’s third consecutive straight-set win 6-3, 6-3. The Purple & Gold entered the final three singles matches with a 3-1 edge.
But the tides once again began to turn in favor of the Seawolves, as Stony Brook came within one (3-2) after a three-set, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 victory at No. 4. Alba Sala (No. 2) and Isidora Pejovic (No. 6) continued on in their third sets with the championship on the line.
Despite a 6-2 first-set win, Pejovic found herself in a third-set tiebreak after falling in the second 6-4. The freshman fought back down late in the tie break to earn a six-point third-set tie break victory. With the No. 6 singles point in hand, Sala’s match was suspended and the Great Danes celebrated their conference championship.
“Alba Sala and Isidora Pejovic combined to fight off at least eight match points before Isidora clinched the match,” added Graham. “To have something like that happen in a match of this significance shows that it was truly a team effort. It’s a storybook ending to an amazing season and program.”
In the 15-year history of America East women’s tennis, UAlbany becomes the third team to ever win the championship. Boston University swept every title from 2002-2011, while the Seawolves won from 2012-2015. Graham’s squad avenged a 7-0 loss to Stony Brook in the 2015 America East Championship on Sunday afternoon. In addition, Paulina Torres garnered Most Outstanding Player recognition, while Mireille Hermans earned Elite 18 honors with a 3.96 GPA in honors psychology.
UAlbany women’s tennis locked up the school’s 89th Division I conference championship, and 82nd America East crown. The Great Danes women’s tennis squad will make the school’s 41st appearance in the NCAA Tournament with its automatic qualifier.
The NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis selection show is slated for Tuesday, May 3 at 5:00 p.m., on ncaa.com. UAlbany will await its position in the field of 64 with competition beginning Friday, May 13.
RESULTS:
UAlbany 4, Stony Brook 2
Doubles:
1. Nikolaeva-Tsvetkov (SBU) def. Torres-Glumac (UAlbany) 6-22. Sala-Pejovic (UAlbany) led Smergut-Shtilkind (SBU) 5-3 (40-30)3. Bhimjiyani-Badoche (SBU) def. Kenic-King (UAlbany) 6-2 *Order of finish: 1,3*Clinched doubles point for Stony Brook
Singles:
1. Jovana Kenic (UAlbany) def. Yana Nikolaeva (SBU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Alba Sala (UAlbany) led Liz Tsvetkov (SBU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-5 (40-30), match was not completed
3. Paulina Torres (UAlbany) def. Devanshi Bhimjiyani (SBU) 6-3, 6-3
4. Nadia Smergut (SBU) def. Dajana Ognjenovic (UAlbany) 6-3, 1-6, 6-2
5. Ana Glumac (UAlbany) def. Louise Badoche (SBU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Isidora Pejovic (UAlbany) def. Becky Shtilkind (SBU) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (6) $
Order of finish: 5, 1, 3, 4, 6
$Clinched match for UAlbany
Most Outstanding Player: Paulina Torres, UAlbany
Elite 18: Mireille Hermans, UAlbany
