Navy Beats Army in PL Women's Tennis Semifinals

April 23, 2016

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Sophomore Claudia Mackenzie clinched the match at No. 3 singles as the third-seeded Navy women's tennis team (20-9) earned a 4-1 win over No. 2 Army West Point (20-6) on Saturday in the Patriot League Tournament Semifinals in the Tose Family Tennis Center. Navy advances to the Patriot League Championship match on Sunday against No. 1 Boston University at 1:00 PM.

"It was a team win," said Navy head coach Keith Puryear. "This win included those that played today and those that supported from the sidelines. It was a culmination of all the hard work and dedication put forth by this team all season long."

Navy opened the day by rallying to win the doubles point, 2-1.

Army's Carolyn Pitman and Kirby Einck blanked Navy junior Rozel Hernandez and freshman Catalina Rico, 6-0, at No. 1 doubles. Shortly after, Navy sophomore Amanda Keller and Mackenzie defeated Army's Eva Sung and Rugile Valuniate at No. 1 singles, 6-1.

Freshman Carlee Conway and sophomore Kristine Rojo then held off Army's Nancy Porter and Genevieve McCormick, 6-4, at No. 3 doubles to clinch the doubles point.

It was the first time in the nine-match Army-Navy series that Navy won the doubles point.

"Getting the doubles point was critical for us today," said Puryear. "It gave us some breathing room and we were able to carry the momentum from winning the doubles into singles play."

Freshman Josie Rogers was the first player to win a singles match as she defeated Porter at No. 6 singles in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1.

"Josie continues to impress me," said Puryear. "For her to step up like that in her first Army-Navy event says a lot about her mettle."

Navy then took a 3-0 lead in the match when Keller beat Pitman at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-4. Pitman was an all-league first-team honoree in 2015 and she defeated Keller in three sets in their last meeting in the regular season.

"Amanda showed a lot of perseverance and persistence against a very good player," Puryear said. "She really played a great first set to take control of the match."

Keller improves to 24-15, while Rogers is 24-5 overall in singles play and 13-1 in dual matches.

As Army's Kirby Einck won at No. 4 singles to cut Navy's lead to 3-1, both Mackenzie and senior Logan Antill were nearing match-clinching singles victories when Mackenzie finished first to give Navy the 4-1 win.

Mackenzie dropped her first set to McCormick at No. 3 singles, 3-6, but then rallied to even the match with a 6-2 win in the second set. She then breezed past McCormick in the third set, 6-0, to finish the match.

Mackenzie also clinched Navy's first-ever win against Army in the Star Match during her freshman season in 2015.

"Claudia did it again," Puryear said. "I couldn't be prouder of her. She buckled down and found a way to win."

Antill, the team captain, led Valuniate at No. 2 singles, 6-4, 5-3, when Mackenzie clinched the team victory. Navy will be making its fifth appearance in the Patriot League Championship match on Sunday. Navy lost to Boston U., 4-0, in the 2015 league final.

Navy has also reached the 20-win mark for the sixth straight season.

The winner of Sunday's league championship will earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Boston U. holds a 2-0 lead in the all-time series against Navy and the Terriers beat the Mids, 7-0, earlier this season.

Sunday's championship match will be played at the outdoor Fluegel-Moore Tennis Stadium or the indoor Tose Family Tennis Center with inclement weather. Both facilities are at the Brigade Sports Complex at 64 Greenbury Point Road in Annapolis. Admission is free and the facility is open to the public.

Navy def. Army West Point, 4-1Doubles point -- Navy wins the doubles point, 2-1 (Order of finish: 2,1,3)No. 1 Amanda Keller / Claudia Mackenzie (Navy) def. Eva Sung / Rugile Valuniate (Army), 6-1No. 2 Carolyn Pitman / Kirby Einck (Army) def. Rozel Hernandez / Catalina Rico (Navy), 6-0No. 3 Carlee Conway / Kristine Rojo (Navy) def. Nancy Porter / Genevieve McCormick, 6-4
Singles (Finish: 6,1,4,3 )No. 1 Amanda Keller (Navy) def. Carolyn Pitman (Army), 6-1, 6-4No. 2 Logan Antill (Navy) led Rugile Valuniate (Army), 6-4, 5-3No. 3 Claudia Mackenzie (Navy) def. Genevieve McCormick (Army), 3-6, 6-2, 6-0No. 4 Kirby Einck (Army) def. Sam Droop (Navy), 6-1, 6-4No. 5 Bridget Guenard (Army) led Carlee Conway (Navy), 7-5, 1-5No. 6 Josie Rogers (Navy) def. Nancy Porter (Army), 6-4, 6-1

2016 Patriot League Women's Tennis Tournament ScheduleThursday, April 21 - First Round#9 Holy Cross 4, #8 Lafayette 2
Friday, April 22 - Quarterfinals#1 Boston University 5, #9 Holy Cross 0#4 Bucknell 4, #5 Lehigh 2#3 Navy 4, #6 Loyola 0#2 Army West Point 4, #7 Colgate 0
Saturday, April 23 - Semifinals#1 Boston U. 4, #4 Bucknell 0#3 Navy 4, #2 Army West Point 1
Sunday, April 24 - Championship#1 Boston U. vs. #3 Navy -- 1:00 PM

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