Third-seeded Skyhawks visit second-seeded Southern N.H. for NE10 semifinal Friday at 1 p.m.
NE10 Women's Tennis Championship Central
NE10 Women's Tennis Championship History
Markaryan helped lead the Skyhawks past New Haven in Wednesday's NE10 first round and is a two-time All-NE10 first team singles performer |
EASTON, Mass. (October 24, 2019) – Third-seeded Stonehill College, ranked No. 4 in the most recent Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II East Region rankings, aims to reverse its lone Northeast-10 Conference loss of the season when it visits second-seeded Southern New Hampshire University for semifinal round action of the 2019 NE10 Women's Tennis Tournament on Friday.
The match is scheduled to be played at Penmen Stadium Tennis Courts tomorrow at 1 p.m., but in the event of inclement weather would be played inside YMCA Allard Center at 3:30 p.m. Admission for the match is free of charge.
Stonehill (10-3, 9-1 NE10) and Southern New Hampshire (11-1, 9-1 NE10) finished in a three-way tie for first place in the NE10 this season, along with tournament top-seed Adelphi University (9-3, 9-1 NE10), to share the Conference's regular season championship. For the Skyhawks, it marked their fourth-straight regular season title and tenth in program history overall, while the Penmen captured a share of its first regular season crown since the 2012-13 season. The winner of tomorrow's semifinal advances to Sunday's NE10 Championship match to be hosted by the highest remaining seed at 1 p.m. Adelphi hosts fourth-seeded Le Moyne College (12-3, 7-3 NE10) in tomorrow's other semifinal match.
While SNHU received a first round bye into Friday's semifinal, Stonehill advanced with a 4-0 triumph over sixth-seeded University of New Haven (8-6, 5-5 NE10) in Wednesday's first round. Senior Caroline Ray and freshman Steffi Antao clinched the doubles point with their 6-2 win at No. 3 yesterday and then senior Alexandra Vo provided the match-clinching point with her 6-0, 6-1 victory at No. 3 singles against New Haven's Nicole Mika. Stonehill also got singles wins from junior Isabelle Porter and sophomore Emma Markaryan in the win.
Stonehill will be looking to avenge its lone NE10 loss of the season – and its only Conference setback since 2016, at Southern N.H. tomorrow. The Penmen edged the Skyhawks, 4-3 at Charles Watt Tennis Courts in Easton on October 5. Sophomore Elizabeth Dwyer and freshman Isabella Andrad led three double-winners for SNHU in the match. The duo completed a sweep of the three doubles matches with their 7-6 (7-5) triumph at No. 3 doubles and then Dwyer notched the match-clinching point with her 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 6 singles against Stonehill freshman Laura Jaegerhuber. Stonehill got points in singles play from Vo, Antao and Markaryan at No. 2, 3 and 4 singles, respectively.
Solorzano Valencia and Howick earned All-NE10 second team honors at No. 2 doubles and have been a successful pairing this season |
Stonehill, winners of ten NE10 regular season championships in program history overall, seeks its sixth-straight trip to the NE10 Championship match on Friday. The Skyhawks are making their NE10 record 21st Tournament appearance overall, having reached the final 13 times, including ten of the last 11 seasons. Stonehill is the defending NE10 Tournament champions, having captured the title six times in 2018, 2014, 2013 and 2009, to go with titles in 1991 and 1992 under the old flighted points system before the league switched to its present dual match tournament format in 1999.
Arpé, a 2017 inductee into the Stonehill Athletic Hall of Fame and two-time NE10 Coach of the Year, is in her 11th season as the head coach of the women's tennis program, returning this fall after five years of retirement. The Skyhawks feature a deep lineup consisting of eight All-NE10 performers, led by the regionally-ranked duo of Porter and Vo.
Porter, ranked No. 13 in the Oracle/ITA Division II East Region rankings, earned her fourth career All-NE10 selection with her third team spot at No. 1 doubles, alongside sophomore playing partner Samantha Ormesher. Porter is a combined 4-4 in singles and doubles play this season, posting a 4-4 singles record, including 3-3 in the NE10, to go with a 7-4 doubles mark, including 7-2 in the NE10, with a 6-4 record with Ormesher, including 6-2 in the NE10.
Vo, now a six-time All-NE10 performer over her career after earning a spot on the first team at No. 2 singles for the third time in her career, is ranked No. 15 in the Oracle/ITA East Region singles rankings. She posted a sterling 40-0 career record in NE10 regular season matches this fall and is 12-2 in singles this season, including 8-0 in the NE10, with a 5-0 record at No. 3, having reached the quarterfinals of the USTA/ITA Division II East Regional.
Freshman Cristina Solorzano Valencia has made an immediate impact in her first season at Stonehill, earning All-NE10 second team honors at No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles, along with senior playing partner Annelise Howick. Solorzano Valencia is a combined 27-7 this fall, posting a 13-3 singles record, including 8-2 in the NE10, while she and Howick are 13-3, including 7-1 in the NE10. The duo reached the semifinals of the ITA East Region doubles championship, while Solorzano Valencia also advanced to the singles quarterfinals.
Porter also shined in Wednesday's NE10 first round win and is a four-time All-NE10 performer over her career |
Antao earned All-NE10 first team honors at No. 3 singles and third team accolades at No. 3 doubles, along with Ray. Antao is a combined 18-6 in her first collegiate season, posting a 10-3 singles record, winning all nine of her NE10 singles matches. She and Ray have posted a 5-2 doubles record, including 4-1 in the NE10. Ray has also posted a 4-1 singles record, including 3-0 in the NE10.
Markaryan is a two-time All-NE10 first team singles performer, with her honors at No. 4 singles this fall. She has posted an 11-3 singles record, including 9-1 in the NE10 to give her a career NE10 singles record of 19-1 through two seasons.
Southern New Hampshire, under the direction of NE10 Coach of the Year Greg Coache, in his 13th season, features a lineup with four All-NE10 performers. Freshman Magdelena Hubickova, the NE10 Rookie of the Year, headlines the All-NE10 performers, with first team honors at No. 1 doubles, along with sophomore Alexxa Ettienne, and second team accolades at No. 1 singles. The ITA Division II East Regional singles champion is a combined 20-3 in singles and doubles play, having posted a 9-2 singles record, including 8-2 in the NE10, while she and Etienne are 11-1 this season, including 9-1 in the NE10. Ettienne has a combined 20-4 record this season, posting a 9-3 singles mark, including 7-3 in the NE10.
Andrade and Dwyer have earned All-NE10 first team honors for both singles and doubles. The duo have won all ten of their doubles matches this season, including 9-0 in the NE10. Andrade has posted a 12-0 singles record, including 10-0 in the NE10, while Dwyer is 11-1, including 9-1 in the NE10.
Southern New Hampshire, winners of three NE10 Tournament championships, seeks its fifth finals berth tomorrow. The Penmen last reached the championship match in 2013, when Stonehill posted a 5-2 victory, while winning titles in 2010, 2011 and 2012 – all with wins over the Skyhawks.
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2019 Northeast-10 Conference
Women's Tennis Tournament
First Round
Wednesday, October 23
#4 Le Moyne 4, #5 Franklin Pierce 3
#3 Stonehill 4, #6 New Haven 0
Semifinal
Friday, October 25
Stonehill (10-3, 9-1 NE10) at #2 Southern N.H. (11-1, 9-1 NE10), 1 p.m.
Le Moyne (12-3, 7-3 NE10) at #1 Adelphi (9-3, 9-1 NE10), 1 p.m.
Championship
Sunday, October 27
Semifinal winners, hosted by highest remaining seed, 1 p.m.
