#3 Women’s Tennis Readies for GNAC Semifinals

BOSTON – The third-seeded Suffolk women's tennis team's quest for the 2016 GNAC crown continues Saturday, Oct. 22 as the Rams take on second-seeded Sharks of Simmons at the Winchester Tennis Courts. 

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THE FIELD
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Oct. 19
Match 1: #6 Mount Ida at #3 Suffolk (W, 5-0)
Match 2: #5 Albertus Magnus at #4 Saint Joseph (Conn.) (W, 9-0) 

Semifinals – Saturday, Oct. 22 – Winchester Tennis Center
Match 3: #4 Saint Joseph (Conn.) vs. #1 Johnson & Wales – 2
Match 4:#3 Suffolk vs. #2 Simmons – 4:30 p.m. 

Championship – Sunday, Oct. 23 – Winchester Tennis Center
Match 5: Match 3 winner vs. Match 4 winner – 12:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
The five-days between meetings of the Rams and Mustangs did not change the results as the third-seeded Suffolk women's tennis team swept six-seed Mount Ida, 5-0, in the quarterfinals of the GNAC tournament at Buckingham, Browne & Nichols to advance to the semifinals.   

MORE READING: #3 Women's Tennis Advances to Semis, Sweeps #6 Mt. Ida

RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk (9-8) continued its late powerful performance in the quarterfinals, sweeping doubles action and locking up golden matches on the third and fourth singles courts, respectively, to advance to the semifinals for the seventh time. 

In the regular season, Aidiana Sagyndykova powered the Rams throughout conference play, competing in all six matches on both courts for an unblemished 6-0 singles mark in the first and second positions and a 5-1 doubles ledger on the first and second courts. Overall, the senior is 14-0 in dual singles matches (14-1 on the season) and 13-3 in doubles dual matches (13-4 overall). 

Valentina Medina, meanwhile, has also proved to be a consistent threat for Suffolk. The junior posts an identical singles ledger in dual (14-0) and overall play (14-1), but has stood out as the prime Rams doubles partner, putting together a 15-2 season doubles mark (14-1 in dual play), which includes an unbeaten 9-0 ledger when teaming up with junior Isabel Rathlev. 

SOMETHING 'BOUT THE SHARKS
Simmons picked up a bye into the semifinals with a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rams as both teams, along with top seed Johnson & Wales, all finished regular season conference play at 5-1. 

Jessica Schroedl held down the top singles court for the Sharks with a 4-7 mark. In doubles she played with two different partners for as the top tandem; with Olivia Lakes she is 3-4, while and is 0-3 with Mai Driesen. 

WE MEET AGAIN
Simmons spoiled Suffolk's GNAC opener this season, 5-4, Sept. 20. Coming out of a 1-2 hole after doubles play, the Rams tied the match at 3-all, but the Sharks coupled back-to-back points to seal the victory. 

MORE READING: Simmons Spoils Women's Tennis GNAC Opener, 5-4

RAMS IN THE GNAC CHAMPIONSHIP
The Rams will be making their 10th straight appearance in the GNAC Tournament and fourth appearance as the third seed. Suffolk has advanced to the semifinals three times from the quarterfinals and received four byes into the final four. Overall, the Rams are 6-8 in GNAC post-season play (3-2 quarterfinals, 2-5 semifinals, 1-1 finals). 

Suffolk will face Simmons for the third time in the post season, but the first time in the semifinals. The previous two meetings between the Rams and Sharks in the conference tournament have come in the championship with each team taking home one win. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of the match will take on the winner of No. 1 Johnson & Wales and #4 Saint Joseph (Conn.) Sunday, Oct. 23 at 12:30 p.m. at the Winchester Tennis Center.