SKIDMORE WOMEN'S TENNIS PLAYOFF PREVIEW
Friday, April 28 – Sunday, April 30
Reis Tennis Center – Cornell University
Ithaca, N.Y.
TOURNAMENT COVERAGE:
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL (Live Scoring Links Available)
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Friday, April 28 (First Round)
MATCH 1 – 8:30 a.m. #4 Union vs. #5 St. Lawrence
MATCH 2 – 11:30 a.m. #2 RPI vs. #6 Ithaca
Saturday, April 29 (Semifinals)
MATCH 3 – 8:30 a.m. #1 Vassar vs. MATCH 1 Winner
MATCH 4 – 11:30 a.m.
#2 Skidmore vs. MATCH 2 Winner
Sunday, April 30 (Championship)
MATCH 5 – 9 a.m. Semifinal winners
ABOUT THE WOMEN'S TEAMS:
#1 Vassar (11-5 overall, 7-1 Liberty League)
- Vassar earned the tournament's top seed for the second consecutive season. The Brewers are seeking their first Liberty League title since 2010. Vassar earned the top seed by a 5-4 road victory over Skidmore on April 23.
- The Brewers enter the Liberty League tournament having won five straight matches, including 5-4 Liberty League victories over both RPI and Skidmore.
- Macey Dowd, currently 12-3 in dual-match play, recently moved up to the top spot in the Vassar singles lineup. She is currently 5-1 at first singles. Erin McCusker is currently 12-2 in dual-match play, including a perfect 8-0 at second singles, her current position.
- The Vassar doubles teams are a combined 17-7 in Liberty League matches. The first doubles team of McCusker and Sofie Shen has an 8-6 record. The second doubles pairing of Macey Dowd and Iris Li leads the team with a 12-4 record.
#2 SKIDMORE (10-7 overall, 7-1 Liberty League)
- Skidmore is the defending Liberty League champion, having won 11 straight Liberty League titles. The Thoroughbreds were the No. 2 seed last year as well but defeated Vassar 5-3 in a close final to retain the league title.
- Skidmore is a combined 40-7 in Liberty League singles play (61-40 in dual matches). The Thoroughbreds have been especially strong in the four through six positions, fashioning a combined 36-14 dual-match record. Konika Dhull 14-2 in dual matches while playing both fourth and fifth singles.
- Dhull and Beilynn Geiss lead the team with an 11-2 record in doubles while playing in both the second and third spots.
#3 RPI (13-4 overall, 6-2 Liberty League)
- RPI will be a strong challenger for the title as the Engineers lost narrow 5-4 decisions to both Vassar and Skidmore.
- First-year player Nikki Ridenour has been one of the league's top rookies, playing nearly the entire season in the first singles position. Ridenour has compiled a 10-6 dual-match record, including 8-6 at first singles.
- The Engineers have been strong in doubles play, going a league-best 22-2 in doubles competition. The first doubles team of Ridenour and Lorna Flores Gonzalez has combined for a 15-1 dual-match record, including 13-1 at first doubles. Alex Mednikova and Rani Jones are 11-1 at second doubles.
#4 UNION (9-6 overall, 5-3 Liberty League)
- Union earned the tournament's fourth seed – the highest seed the Dutchwomen have earned since the Liberty League tournament moved to a six-team format. Union defeated St. Lawrence 7-2 to earn the head-to-head tiebreaker for the fourth seed.
- Twelve different players have played in dual-match singles matches for the Dutchwomen. Marilena Karadimou, who has gone 3-3 in Liberty League matches, plays first singles for Union.
- Karadimou and Gracie Nicol are the team's top doubles tandem, having gone 6-4 at first doubles. The Dutchwomen are a combined 15-9 in Liberty League doubles matches.
#5 ST. LAWRENCE (9-5 overall, 5-3 Liberty League)
- St. Lawrence is the lone team in the league to beat top-seeded Vassar. The Saints defeated the Brewers 5-4 at Vassar on April 8. St. Lawrence won at second and third doubles and then split three of the six singles matches, including first, third, and fourth singles.
- The middle of the Saints' singles lineup has been particularly strong. The Saints are a combined 34-8 at the third, fourth, and fifth singles positions. First-year player Angelica Aksdal-Jansen leads the team with an 11-2 dual-match record, including 9-1 at fourth singles.
- St. Lawrence has received consistent production from its doubles teams. The Saints have won at least nine doubles matches in each of the three positions. Catherine Gamble and Molly Jespersen have gone 9-5 at first doubles while Caitlyn Avery and Emily Harris have recorded an 8-5 record at second doubles.
#6 Ithaca (8-9 overall, 3-5 Liberty League)
- Ithaca earned a 5-4 win over William Smith on April 12 to clinch a Liberty League tournament berth. First-year player Sabrina Cheung had the clinching victory, rallying for a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 victory at fourth singles.
- Taylor Crain, last year's Liberty League Rookie of the Year, has had another strong season, going 12-3 at first singles and 12-3 in doubles play while combining with Caroline Herz.
- Cheung has had a strong rookie season, going a combined 12-3 in dual matches while playing anywhere from second to sixth in the lineup.
SKIDMORE LIBERTY LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
- 2022
- 2021
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
- 2000
- 1999
- 1998
- 1997
- 1996
- 1995
SKIDMORE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
