NEWBURGH, N.Y. – A dominant start to their title defense, the Mount Saint Mary College women's tennis team defeated St. Joseph's College, 6-0, in the Skyline Conference semifinals on Wednesday. The Knights improved to 11-2 overall and advanced to face second-seeded Bard College in the championship match.

The Knights moved out to an early advantage by claiming all three of the doubles matches. Sophomores Emily Gregory (Albertson, N.Y.) and Jen Gregory (Albertson, N.Y.) were first off the court with an 8-0 victory at third doubles. Senior Lindsay Searle (Farmington, Conn.) and freshman Jaimee Lubniewski (Middletown, N.Y.) followed with an 8-2 win at second doubles, leaving sophomore Gabriela Murphy-Goldberg (Newburgh, N.Y.) and junior Annie Llewellyn (Brookhaven, N.Y.) out on the court to finish up an 8-4 win at first doubles.

Needing just two more points to clinch the match, the Knights picked up their first point as Murphy-Goldberg rolled to a 6-0, 6-1 triumph at first singles. Clinching the match for the Mount was Emily Gregory at fifth singles with a 6-1, 6-1 win. Jen Gregory finished nearly simultaneously at sixth singles (6-0, 6-1) to earn the sixth point of the match for the Mount. Llewellyn was playing well at fourth singles, and led 6-2, 5-2 when the team match came to a conclusion.

The championship match is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in Newburgh. The Mount defeated Bard, 5-4, during the regular season, so an exciting championship match is a strong possibility.