TICKET PUNCHED! STAC Women's Tennis Earns Second Straight Trip to NCAA Finals with Thrilling 4-3 Victory Over Wilmington

Posted: May 11, 2024

Yonkers, N.Y. - The St. Thomas Aquinas College Women's Tennis team punched its second straight ticket to Florida and the NCAA Division II Finals on Saturday, courtesy of a thrilling 4-3 victory over Wilmington University (Del.) in the East Regional Tournament held at the Yonkers Tennis Center and hosted by STAC.

The win moves the Spartans to 16-6 on the season, and is the team's fourth straight triumph. Meanwhile, the Wildcats close their 2023-2024 campaign also at 16-6.

STAC now awaits the seedings for the upcoming NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Finals, which will take place May 20-24 in Altmonte Springs, Florida at Sanlando Park. Rollins College and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission will serve as hosts.

Doubles victories by the maroon and gold at the number two (Jemima Parkinson & Elita Silins 6-2 over Alva Norberg & Marley Trifunovic) and number one (Kateryna Kryuchkova & Viktoriia Pavlovets 6-2 over Fenna Swaan & Valentina Ivankovic) positions gave St. Thomas Aquinas the first team point of the day.

No. 4 Samanta Villegas Robles would then open singles with a 6-1, 6-1 win against Kushi Khandoji to make it 2-0 in favor of the hosts from Sparkill. However, three straight triumphs by the Wildcats would put the Spartans on the brink of elimination, as No. 2 Alva Norberg took down Amanda Kadiri 6-1, 6-3, followed by No. 1 Jess Purdy besting Viktoriia Pavlovets 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 and No. 5 Marley Trifunovic slipping past Elita Silins 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

In spite of the situation they were in, the Spartans showed true heart and a warrior mentality, rallying to take the final two matches and the East Regional from Wilmington's grips. No. 6 Kateryna Kryuchkova rallied from a first set deficit to dispatch Larize Nel 5-7, 7-5, 6-4, evening the score at 3-3. The final bout would come down to No. 3 Elise Semmartin and Valentina Ivankovic. Semmartin fell in the first set 3-6, before needing a tie-breaker to even things in the second set, 7-6 (7-5). Everything came down to a third set tie-breaker, which Semmartin handled like a seasoned professional, besting Ivankovic 7-5, to send the Spartans into an immediate celebration with dreams of heading to a second consecutive Division II Women's Tennis Finals instantly becoming a reality.

STAC 4/WILMINGTON (Del.) 3 - OFFICIAL RESULTS

DOUBLES

1. Kateryna Kryuchkova & Viktoriia Pavlovets (STAC) def. Fenna Swaan & Valentina Ivankovic (WILM) 6-2

2. Jemima Parkinson & Elita Silins (STAC) def. Alva Norberg & Marley Trifunovic (WILM), 6-2

3. Amanda Kadiri & Samanta Villegas Robles (STAC) vs. Larize Nel & Jess Purdy (WILM), 4-2 (NOT FINISHED)

Order of Finish: 2, 1*

SINGLES

1. Jess Purdy (WILM) def. Viktoriia Pavlovets (STAC) 6-1, 5-7, 6-1

2. Alva Norberg (WILM) def. Amanda Kadiri (STAC) 6-1, 6-3

3. Elise Semmartin (STAC) def. Valentina Ivankovic (WILM) 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5

4. Samanta Villegas Robles (STAC) def. Kushi Khanodji (WILM) 6-1, 6-1

5. Marley Trifunovic (WILM) def. Elita Silins (STAC) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3

6. Kateryna Kryuchkova (STAC) def. Larize Nel (WILM) 5-7, 7-5, 6-4

Order of Finish: 4, 2, 1, 5, 6, 3*

#3 Wilmington (Del.) Record: 16-6, 9-1 CACC

#2 STAC Record: 16-6, 4-1 ECC

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A RETURN TRIP TO THE NCAA DIVISION II WOMEN'S TENNIS FINALS BABY!!