Semifinal Showdown with Johnson & Wales on Tap for Women’s Tennis

BOSTON – The second-seeded Suffolk women's tennis team's quest for the GNAC Crown begins with a 4:30 p.m. Saturday showdown versus the third-seeded Wildcats of Johnson & Wales at the Winchester Tennis Courts.  

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LAST TIME OUT
The Suffolk women's tennis team sealed a solo second-place finish in the final GNAC standings, as the Rams swept Mount Ida, 9-0, Sunday afternoon.

MORE READING: Second Place Sealed as Women's Tennis Wins Fifth Straight, Blanks Mt. Ida

RUN DOWN THE RAMS
Suffolk used stellar player from its top two players to claim second in the GNAC standings with a 10-4 overall record and 5-1 mark in the GNAC.

Aidiana Sagyndykova has played the majority of matches at No. 1 as the junior sits at 9-1 in the top spot and 11-1 overall. Valentina Medina, meanwhile, burst on the collegiate scene with a 14-0 record on the first and second singles courts.

Medina is the main ingredient to success in doubles play as the sophomore tandems sit at 13-1. With Sagyndykova at No. 1 the pair is 4-0. When Medina pairs with Abby Trigilio in the second slot the tandem is 7-1. Rebecca Eshoo has partnered with Medina twice on the first court and the two are unbeaten.

WILDCAT WAYS
Johnson & Wales swept Mount Ida, 5-0, in the quarterfinals match to advance to the semifinals.

Morgan Thompson has played exclusively at No. 1, with Emily Glass (No. 2) and Taylor Klein closing out the Wildcats' top-three singles players. Thompson and Glass are 9-2, while Klein sits at 10-1.

On the doubles court, Victoria Pizzulo and Thompson pair up for JWU top duo and sit at 6-4.

WE MEET AGAIN
Suffolk and Johnson & Wales first meeting this season was crucial and thanks to stellar singles play from Isabel Rathlev, the Rams prevailed 5-4.

With the scored level at 4-all, Rathlev, a sophomore in the fifth position, took down the Wildcats' Victoria Pizzulo, 7-5, 6-3, to lift the Rams to victory.

MORE READING: Women's Tennis Stuns JWU, 5-4, Moves into Second in GNAC Standings

ECAC'S BEST OF SEPTEMBER
For her tremendous collegiate start, Valentina Medina added another award to her resume as she was tabbed Corvias ECAC Women's Tennis Division III Co-Rookie of the Month the conference announced Monday afternoon. 

MORE READING: Medina Tabbed Corvias ECAC Women's Tennis Co-Rookie of the Month

ROOKIE RECOGNITION
For the fifth time this season and fourth time in as many weeks, Valentina Medina of the Suffolk women's tennis team was named GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week the league office announced Monday afternoon. 

Medina has now been tabbed the best rookie over a seven day stretch in five of the six weeks of action this season to become the first GNAC to be named Rookie of the Week five times in one season since Simmons' Han DK Le accomplished the feat a year ago. 

MORE READING: Medina Picks Up Fifth GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week Nod | Medina Picks Up Fourth GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week Award | Medina Named GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week, Again |  Medina Tabbed GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week | Medina Named GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week

WHAT'S NEXT?
With a victory over the Wildcats, the Rams will advance to the championship match and take on the winner of top-seeded Simmons and fourth-seeded the University of Saint Joseph Sunday at 12:30 p.m.