Antao provided the match clinching point at No. 2 singles, and was a double-winner. (PHOTO BY Doug Monson/Stonehill Athletics)

Skyhawks win fifth-straight match in regionally-ranked clash with Dolphins

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (April 18, 2021) – Stonehill College, ranked No. 8 in the most recent Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II East Region rankings, picked up its fifth-straight win and second over a regionally-ranked opponent over the last three matches with a 4-0 triumph at Le Moyne College, ranked No. 5 in the Oracle/ITA East Region rankings, in Northeast-10 Conference women's tennis action at Nottingham High School today. 

Highlights

• Sophomores Cristina Solorzano Valencia and Steffi Antao led Stonehill to the key NE10 win as double-winners.
• Junior Samantha Ormesher registered a singles win for Stonehill, marking her fifth-straight victory.
• Junior Emma Markaryan and sophomore Lily Peter added a doubles win for the Skyhawks.

How it Happened

• Solorzano Valencia and Antao clinched the doubles point for Stonehill with their 6-4 decision at No. 1 against the Le Moyne duo of junior Birdem Oz and sophomore Francesca Lilliegren.
• Markaryan and Peter opened doubles play with a 6-2 triumph at No. 3.
• Ormesher posted Stonehill's first singles point, breezing past Le Moyne senior Rebecca Peters 6-0, 6-3 at No. 5 singles.
• Solorzano Valencia, ranked No. 6 in the Oracle/ITA Division II East Region singles rankings, drew Stonehill within a point of the match win, dispatching Oz, ranked No. 7 in the region singles rankings, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 singles.
• Antao posted the match-winning point for Stonehill with her 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles against Le Moyne senior Marta Nunez.

Solorzano Valencia was also a double-winner for the Skyhawks, teaming up with Antao for a win at No. 1 doubles to clinch the doubles point (PHOTO BY Doug Monson/Stonehill Athletics)

Noteworthy

• Both teams entered the match ranked in the Oracle/ITA Division II East Region rankings, but more importantly, listed among East Region teams under consideration in the first NCAA Division II Championship selection rankings released this week.
• The win moves Stonehill into a tie for third place in the NE10 standings with Le Moyne, but the Skyhawks now hold the head to head tiebreaker over the Dolphins, and can clinch a first round bye for the upcoming NE10 Tournament with a home win over Saint Michael's College in the regular season finale on Thursday.
• Ormesher posted her fifth-straight singles win today and is now 5-1 this spring to improve to a combined 49-27 in singles and doubles play over her career, including a combined 41-13 in the NE10.
• Solorzano Valencia won her second-straight match over a regionally-ranked opponent in singles and is now 4-1 on the year in singles. She is also a combined 10-4 at No. 1 singles and doubles this spring, while she and Antao won their fifth-straight match to improve to 5-2.
• Markaryan and Peter are now 4-0 this spring at No. 3 doubles for Stonehill.

Up Next

Stonehill (7-2, 7-2 NE10) is scheduled to be back in action on Thursday to wrap up the regular season with a Senior Day match with Saint Michael's College at Charles Watt Tennis Courts at 3 p.m. Le Moyne (7-2, 7-2 NE10) is scheduled to be off until the NE10 Tournament commences on Sunday, April 25. 

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