FLUSHING, N.Y. – Second-seeded Franklin Pierce University, ranked No. 48 in the Oracle/Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II National Rankings, captured its first regional championship in program history with a 4-2 decision over fourth-seeded Stonehill College on day two of the 2021 NCAA Division II East Regional Championship, hosted by Queens (N.Y.) College, at the QC Tennis Center this afternoon.
Franklin Pierce (14-0, 9-0 NE10) advances to the NCAA Division II Championships, being held at the Surprise Tennis & Racquet Complex, in Surprise, Arizona, May 19-21, for a national quarterfinal round match. Stonehill finishes its season with an 11-4 record overall, including 8-2 in the NE10, earning its 15th NCAA Tournament bid and advancing to the "Sweet 16" round for the second time in program history after its 4-3 triumph over top-seeded and No. 28-ranked Concordia (N.Y.) College in last night's first round.
Highlights
- Franklin Pierce postgrad Himani Mor clinched the match in a third set tiebreaker, after fighting back from being down 6-5 in the third set. In the tiebreaker she fought off injury to win the tiebreaker 7-1.
- Postgrad Estela Carra and freshman Zoe Asterio Correa were both double-winners for Franklin Pierce in the victory.
- Sophomore Laura Alvarez Tello and freshman Maria Penalver Aguilo earned a doubles win for Franklin Pierce.
- Sophomore Cristina Solorzano Valencia, ranked No. 6 in the most recent Oracle/ITA Division II East Region singles rankings, was a double-winner for Stonehill with victories at No. 1 singles and doubles.
- Junior Emma Markaryan added a win at No. 4 singles for Stonehill, while senior Isabelle Porter was up 5-4 in the third set at No. 3 singles when the match was ended with Mor's victory at No. 2.
ARIZONA BOUND! pic.twitter.com/Scx3ym80BP
— FPU Ravens (@FPUathletics) May 11, 2021
How it Happened
- Carra and Asterio Correa clinched the doubles point for Franklin Pierce holding off a comeback bid at No. 3 doubles by Stonehill's Markaryan and sophomore Lily Peter, 7-5.
- Penalver Aguilo and Alvarez Tello posted the first doubles win at No. 2, before Solorzano Valencia and sophomore Steffi Antao evened doubles play with their 6-4 triumph at No. 1 against Mor and sophomore Liria Loria, the No. 8-ranked doubles team in the East Region.
- Franklin Pierce's lead extended to 3-0 when Carra picked up a point at No. 5 singles when Stonehill junior Samantha Ormesher was forced to retire after the first set with an injury sustained during doubles play.
- Asterio Correa added a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 6 singles against Peter to draw Franklin Pierce within a point of the title.
- However, Stonehill was in the remaining four singles matches, two of which would head to a third set. Solorzano Valencia put the Skyhawks on the board with her 6-3, 6-4 victory at No. 1 singles against Penalver Aguilo.
- Markaryan finished off a 6-4, 6-4 decision at No. 4 singles against Alvarez Tello as the matches at No. 2 and 3 singles moved into third sets.
- Porter fought back from a set down to force a third set by winning a second set tiebreaker (8-6).
- Meanwhile Mor battled back from dropping the first set to Antao at No. 2 singles to win the second and then battled to the win in a third set tiebreaker, 7-1, to clinch the win.
Noteworthy
- Stonehill finished as one of 16 teams remaining in the NCAA Division II Tournament for the second time in program history and first since reaching the NCAA Championships in 2009. The Skyhawks will be looking for its first Elite Eight appearance with a win tomorrow.
- This afternoon marked the third meeting of the season between Stonehill and Franklin Pierce, with the Ravens taking the NE10 Championship match last week and today's East Region title match by identical 4-2 margins after winning the regular season matchup back in March, 4-0.
- Franklin Pierce advances to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the first time in program history and are the first NE10 women's tennis program to reach the NCAA Quarterfinals.
- Release Courtesy of Stonehill Athletic Communications
ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
