BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The University of Scranton women's tennis team dropped a tough 5-4 decision to host Moravian on Thursday in Landmark Conference play, in what was the Royals' 2016-17 regular season finale.
With the defeat, Scranton finishes the regular year with a 7-8 overall mark, 4-3 in the Landmark Conference. Moravian improved to 9-6 and 4-2 in the Landmark with the victory.
In doubles play on the afternoon, Scranton fell behind Moravian 2-1, as they collected their lone win in the number three position where junior Katherine Loughlin (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Catholic Central) and sophomore Elyse Smilnak (Holidaysburg, Pa./Holidaysburg) pulled out an 8-6 victory.
Down by one entering singles, Moravian won at number one to go up 3-1, but Scranton cut the deficit back down to one with a win at number five by freshman Sakira Fussner (Kempton, Pa./Kutztown Area), who was a straight set 6-1, 6-0 winner.
Moravian, however, grabbed another point with a win at number three to go up 4-2.
Senior Emily Machado (Fishkill, N.Y./Our Lady of Lourdes) kept Scranton alive with a win at number two singles (7-5, 6-2), but the host Greyhounds clinched the win with a victory at number six in three sets.
In the final match of the afternoon, Scranton ended on a high note, as Smilnak gutted out a tough three-set victory at number five singles (3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7).
Despite dropping today's match, the Royals will head to the Landmark Conference playoffs, which will begin next Wednesday. Scranton will likely either be the number three or number four seed in the field, which will be announced over the weekend.
Stay tuned to athletics.scranton.edu for more information on the 2017 Landmark Conference women's tennis playoffs as it becomes available.
Moravian College 5, University of Scranton 4
Apr 27, 2017 at Bethlehem, Pa.
Singles competition
1. Brittney Eady (MOR) def. Nastashia DeNunzio (SCRWT17) 6-3, 6-0
2. Emily Machado (SCRWT17) def. Skylar Oliwa (MOR) 7-5, 6-2
3. Eiman Nazif (MOR) def. Emilia Jakubek (SCRWT17) 6-1, 6-3
4. Elyse Smilnak (SCRWT17) def. Kate Rennar (MOR) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (9-7)
5. Sakira Fussner (SCRWT17) def. Grace Bailly (MOR) 6-1, 6-0
6. Emily Snyder (MOR) def. Emily Kelly (SCRWT17) 6-3, 1-6, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Brittney Eady/Skylar Oliwa (MOR) def. Emilia Jakubek/Emily Machado (SCRWT17) 8-0
2. Eiman Nazif/Lauren Steinert (MOR) def. Nastashia DeNunzio/Emily Kelly (SCRWT17) 8-5
3. Katherine Loughlin/Elyse Smilnak (SCRWT17) def. Kate Rennar/Emily Snyder (MOR) 8-6
Match Notes
University of Scranton 7-8, 4-3 Landmark
Moravian College 9-6, 4-2 Landmark
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,5,3,2,6,4)
Landmark Conference match
Official: Eric Richburg T-3:29 A-28
--ROYALS--
