CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. – After four and a half grueling hours of competition, the Penn State Abington women's tennis team dropped a tough 5-4 decision to the fourth-seeded and defending champions Penn State Berks, Thursday morning (April 24) in semifinal action at the 2014 North Eastern Athletic Conference team championship at the Birchwood Tennis Club.

Abington (10-6), seeded first in the tournament, lost the first doubles point but tied the match at 1-1 when Taylor Zisholtz and Janie Saile beat Berk's Erin Ginther and Florence Kurtz 8-3 at No. 2 doubles before Olya Popili and Alexandra Murianka paired up to defeat Angeie Koval and Cassidy Schultz in a tight 8-6 contest at No. 3 doubles to put Abington ahead 2-1 heading into singles play.

Berks quickly tied up the match at 2-2 when Cyrstal Hitz beat Abington's Honora Hegarty 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 singles before building a 3-2 lead after Munindra defeated Popili in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2.
Zisholtz and Sheena Philips would quickly sweep their opponents at flights No. 3 and 4, respectively to give Abington the 4-3 lead once again until Kurtz managed to knock off Alexandra Murianka at No. 5 singles to tie it at four all with the final point coming all down to flight No. 6 between Berk's Schultz and Abington's Christina Pereira.

Pereira, who became the first player in Abington history to go undefeated against NEAC opponents at 5-0 while also leaving her a perfect 10-0 in singles action on the year, won the first set at 6-4 before Schultz managed to find her second wind and win the next two sets in a 6-2, 6-3 fashion to give Berks the final victory and the upset over Penn State Abington to advance into the finals.

Penn State Berks went on to face third-seeded Keuka College, who also upset second-seed Wells College 5-1, in the finals, looking to defend their championship but fell short as Keuka College defeated Berks 5-4. Keuka will now will now take on NEAC East Division* champion Colby-Sawyer College next weekend to decide the overall conference champion, who will then earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Nittany Lions will wrap up the 2013-14 campaign on Friday, April 25 with the NEAC West individual championship beginning at 8 a.m. For full team and individual tournament pairings, please click here.
 

Penn State Berks 5, Penn State Abington 4
Apr 24, 2014 at Clarks Summit, PA (Birchwood Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. Crystal Hitz (PSBW) def. Honora Hegarty (PSAW) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1

2. Nandita Munindra (PSBW) def. Olya Popili (PSAW) 6-0, 6-2

3. Taylor Zisholtz (PSAW) def. Angie Koval (PSBW) 6-0, 6-2

4. Sheena Philip (PSAW) def. Erin Ginther (PSBW) 6-3, 6-0

5. Florence Kurtz (PSBW) def. Alexandra Murianka (PSAW) 6-4, 6-2

6. Cassidy Schultz (PSBW) def. Christina Pereira (PSAW) 4-6, 6-2, 6-3

 

Doubles competition

1. Crystal Hitz/Nandita Munindra (PSBW) def. Honora Hegarty/Sheena Philip (PSAW) 8-4

2. Taylor Zisholtz/Janie Saile (PSAW) def. Erin Ginther/Florence Kurtz (PSBW) 8-3

3. Olya Popili/Alexandra Murianka (PSAW) def. Angie Koval/Cassidy Schultz (PSBW) 8-6

 

Match Notes

Semifinal Round of 2014 NEAC Women's Tennis Team Championship