Navy Women's Tennis Cruises to Patriot League Semifinals

April 16, 2010

HAMILTON, N.Y. -- The Navy women's team made a strong impression in its first Patriot League Tournament match in school history, breezing past Holy Cross in the quarterfinals, 4-0. The victory improves Navy's record to 13-3 overall, while the Crusaders end the season with a 4-7 mark.

The win lifts the third-seeded Midshipmen into the Patriot League Tournament semifinals against second-seeded Bucknell on Saturday at 2:00 pm.

"I just really want to commend the ladies on their effort today. We played very solid up and down the lineup," said Navy head coach Keith Puryear. "I thought we dealt with pressure very well, which you have to do in the conference tournament. We did the things we needed to do to be successful."

Navy got off to a strong start by winning the doubles point and leading in the third match that was called off after Navy recorded its second victory. The duo of Emani Decquir and Brittney Boucher started things off with an 8-3 triumph over Kristen Meahl and Carolyn Chandley at No. 1 doubles.

Navy then clinched the doubles point at No. 3, when Julie Dias and Lindsay Olsen topped Kathryn Wilkie and Emma Rudnik, 8-3.

Navy was leading at No. 2 doubles when Dye Das and Stefanie Ton led Emily Marr and Ivette Konopka, 7-2, before the match was stopped.

"We really came out focused and we fought hard," said Puryear. "It was important to get off to a good start in doubles action."

Navy then claimed singles victories at Nos. 2, 3 and 4 to advance to the semifinals.

Das started singles play with an impressive 6-0, 6-1, victory at No. 4 over Hailee Lange to improve her spring record to 11-3.

Boucher then moved Navy to within one victory of moving on with a 6-2, 6-0, win over Chandley at No. 2 singles. The win was Boucher's fourth in a row and pushed her record to 12-2 this spring.

Freshman Stefanie Ton then clinched the match at No. 3 with a 6-0, 6-2, victory over Marr. Ton won her fifth match in a row and improved to 11-3 this spring.

Navy will now face Bucknell on Saturday at 2:00 pm in the semifinals. The Bison handed the Mids a 6-1 setback in Navy's first Patriot League match in school history.

"We are looking forward to our match tomorrow with Bucknell. It's going to be a really tough match. We just have to go out and fight for every point," said Puryear. "It helps having played them earlier. They beat us pretty handily, but I think we are a better team than we showed. In the conference championship, things are a little different. We are expecting them to be prepared and we will be as well."

Doubles Play (Order of finish: 1, 3, 2 DNF)
1) Decquir / Boucher (N) d. Meahl / Chandley (HC), 8-3
2) Ton / Das (N) led Marr / Konopka (HC), 7-2 (DNF)
3) Olsen / Dias (N) d. Wilkie / Rudnik (HC), 8-3

Singles Play (Order of finish: 4, 2, 3, 1 DNF, 5 DNF, 6 DNP)
1) Emani Decquir (N) led Kristen Meahl (HC), 6-4, 3-0 (DNF)
2) Brittney Boucher (N) d. Carolyn Chandley (HC), 6-2, 6-0
3) Stefanie Ton (N) d. Emily Marr (HC), 6-0, 6-2
4) Dye Das (N) d. Hailee Lange (HC), 6-0, 6-1
5) Natalie Houle (N) led Ivette Konopka (HC), 2-0 (DNF)
6) Lindsay Olsen (N) vs. Kathryn Wilkie (HC) (DNP)

# GO NAVY #

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