Newburgh, N.Y. – The Mount Saint Mary College Women's Tennis team will play for its first conference championship since winning its fourth straight in 2012 on Sunday when it tussles with top-seeded Yeshiva. First serve at the National Tennis Center in Flushing, N.Y. is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
At A Glance: The Knights advance to the championship final with a hard fought 5-4 upset win over second seeded St. Joseph's-L.I. on Wednesday. The Knights won two of the three doubles points available and senior
Dorothy Tighe (Walden, N.Y.) outlasted her opponent at fifth singles by scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to clinch the victory for the Knights.
Tighe is one of four players with at least eight singles victories on the season for the Mount, entering Sunday's final a winner of four straight decisions and with a 9-3 record. Tighe has split the season between the fourth and fifth positions, holding a 3-0 mark at the fourth slot and a 6-3 mark at the fifth position.
Sophomore
Miyanna Vernon (Liberty, N.Y.) has put together a strong sophomore campaign with eight wins in 14 decisions, winning four times at both the fifth and sixth position. Vernon enters Sunday's tilt with a 4-1 mark at fifth singles and a 4-3 mark at the sixth position.
Freshman
Victoria Clay (Saint James, N.Y.), a two-time Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week honoree, is second on the team in singles victories with 10 and joins Tighe as a winner of four straight decisions heading into the final. Overall, Clay is 10-4 on the season, including 9-1 in her last 10 outings, holding a 3-0 mark at the third position and a 7-4 record at fourth singles.
2016 Skyline Conference Player and Rookie of the Year
Michelle Carnovale (Massapequa, N.Y.) has followed up a standout rookie season with a 12-4 mark at first singles during her sophomore campaign. She has won her last three outings for the Knights and is the team leader in singles wins. Carnovale has dropped just two of her last 10 decisions heading into Sunday's match.
In doubles play, Carnovale and Clay are 9-7 at the top position, while Tighe and
Charlotte Pascual (Freeport, N.Y.) have won eight times, including their last two outings, at the second position. Freshman
Antonietta Capone (Howard Beach, N.Y.) and Vernon have won each of their three matches as a tandem at third doubles for the Knights.
A Look At Yeshiva: The Maccabees, who were picked second in the preseason coaches' poll, enter the match on Sunday with a 9-1 overall record and winners of their last six outings, including a 5-1 semifinal victory over Purchase on Wednesday.
Yeshiva's only loss came in a 9-0 sweep at the hands of Oneonta on September 12 and has dropped only eight games since then.
The Maccabees show five players with at least six singles wins heading into Sunday's contest and have posted a .768 winning percentage in singles matches, going 43-13 as a team entering the final.
Bailey Frohlich stands at 8-1 on the season in singles play, going 4-0 at both fourth and fifth singles, with Michal Ladenheim holding a 7-1 record that includes a 4-0 mark at the fifth position and a 3-0 record at the sixth slot. Shani Hava is unbeaten in six outings at the top flight for Yeshiva.
Yeshiva has been equally impressive in doubles play, holding a 21-9 record in doubles matches for an even .700 winning percentage. Hava and Rebecca Packer lead the way for the Macs in doubles action with a perfect 6-0 record at the top position.
Regular Season Matchup: Yeshiva swept the Knights in Newburgh on September 13, outlasting the Mount at both second singles and doubles. Adele Lerner battled past Pascual by scores of 6-1, 1-6, 12-10 in singles play, while Tighe and Pascual were edged 9-7 by Frohlich and Lerner in doubles action.
What's At Stake: The winner of Sunday's final will earn the Skyline Conference's bid to the 2018 NCAA Tournament. The Knights are seeking their first trip to the national tournament since winning their fourth straight conference title in 2012. Either Mount Saint Mary or Farmingdale State has won each conference title since 2009.
