By Joshua Laska – Entertainment Editor/Website Coordinator
The Vulcan tennis team captured their fifth straight PSAC Championship on April 22 at Bloomsburg against IUP (5-0). The Vulcans will also be hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament after receiving the top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
In the match against IUP, Laurie Navarro and Franziska Steinhardt defeated Emilia Osborne and Alex Ballard (8-1) to open up doubles play. Annabel Pieschl and Jade Pondicas defeated the doubles tandem of Katie Eaton and Tabtip Louhabanjong (8-2). Anastassiya Zherdeva and Axelle Fernandez defeated Ranvita Mahto and Kelly McBryan (8-3) to round out doubles play.
The Vulcan’s clinched the PSAC Championship with a win from Fernandez over McBryan (6-0, 6-1) and a win from Navarro over Ballard (6-1, 6-1). Pieschl, Pondicas, Steinhardt, and Zherdeva all had unfinished matches due to the wins from Fernandez and Navarro.
Pieschl was named the PSAC Tournament MVP after finishing with a 2-0 doubles record in wins over West Chester and IUP. Senior Navarro became the first player in school history to be a member of four-straight PSAC Championships.
The Vulcans finish the season with a record of 19-7, and look to go far into the NCAA Tournament which starts May 2 at the Roadman Park tennis courts at 10 a.m.
