Undefeated in regular season MAAC play, the number one seeded Stags had one goal in mind going into this past weekend: A Metro-Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship repeat.
The women’s tennis team can now happily say: mission accomplished.
For the second year in a row, the Stags celebrated a MAAC Championship win. They defeated the Red Foxes of Marist College 4-1 in the final round on the indoor courts of the Yanitelli Center at St. Peter’s College.
Even though the venue of the MAAC Championship was changed from Flushing, N.Y. to St. Peter’s College due to inclement weather, the change in location could not change the mindset of this team.
“We worked really hard throughout the season, and all of that hard work paid off in the end. It was really rewarding,” said senior Dana Postupack.
Postupack who had the match-winning point for the second consecutive year was also named the MAAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Postupack defeated Marist’s Kelsey Raynor ’13, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, at first singles for the Stags’ fourth point to win the MAAC Championship.
Head Coach Ed Paige said, “Last year we all wanted to win. Since we did that, we didn’t feel as much pressure going into the MAAC Championship this year…but it was still a wonderful feeling to win.”
Paige was happy with the performance of all his players throughout the season and at the MAAC tournament.
At fourth singles, freshman Meghan Sullivan defeated Kayla O’Donovan ’12, 6-2, 6-0, to win her eighth-straight match and improve to 20-7 overall this season.
At fifth singles, junior Alyssa Ruiz blanked Jeannie Lukin ’11, 6-0, 6-0, to win her eight-straight match and improve to 24-6 overall and 20-4 this spring.
Despite a valiant effort, at second singles, senior Paulina Rys was edged by Erin McCarthy ’12, 6-3, 6-4.
Two matches were also underway when play was called. At third singles, junior Kristen Liu was battling it out with Joana Sun ’13, taking the first set 6-4, before falling in the second, 6-4, and trailing 3-1 in the third. At sixth singles, senior Gretchen Amberg was leading Retta Byron ’11, 6-2, 2-0.
In doubles play, in the first seed, Liu and Rys edged Raynor and Sun, 8-6, to win their fourth-straight.
At third doubles, Sullivan teamed with senior Michaela Cerrone to defeat Lukin and Byron, 8-5, for their fifth-straight win.
At second doubles Postupack and Amberg were leading McCarthy and O’Donovan, 6-5, when the Stags took the point.
With the victory this past weekend, Fairfield claimed its third NCAA Tournament berth and ninth MAAC Championship.
The Stags, winners of eight-straight and 13 of their last 14 contests, improved to 19-5 overall, tying the program record for victories in a season. The last time Fairfield won 19 matches was in 2003-04 when the Stags made their first NCAA appearance.
After this tournament win, the women’s tennis team earns an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Paige said, “We find out who we play May 4th and it’s going to be a top 16 seed.”
According to Paige, Fairfield will fall in the bottom 16 seedings for the NCAA tournament and therefore will play a top 16 seed in the first round of the tournament.
As they await their seeding fate, Postupack and the women’s tennis team are looking forward to another trip to the NCAA tournament. “We were there last year and now we know what it’s all about now,” Postupack said. “We work hard and we know anything’s possible when your determined.”
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