First NE10 Championship for the Penmen Since 2013.
When and Where: October 23, 2022 – Hooksett, N.H. (Ouellette Stadium Tennis Courts)
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 4, Franklin Pierce University 3
Records: SNHU 12-0, FPU 10-2
Graduate student Verena Weindl came away victorious in her No. 4 singles match to secure an NE10 Championship title, as the top-seeded Southern New Hampshire women's tennis team rallied past second-seeded Franklin Pierce on Sunday afternoon at the Ouellette Stadium Tennis Courts.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
- With the match tied, 3-3, Weindl beat Zoe Asterio Correa, 6-4, 7-6 (7-0) to bring home the title. She also was part of the only SNHU doubles win, as she and freshman Alina Kupfer doubled up Maria Penalver Aguilo and Aynara Ferraz, 6-3, at No. 2.
- With the Penmen trailing, 3-1, and on the brink of watching a title slip away, Kupfer notched a 7-5, 6-0 win versus Liria Loria at No. 2 singles.
- Grad student Alexxa Etienne then posted a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory at No. 3 singles against Ana Platisa to tie the match, 3-3.
- Senior Guntra Upeniece opened singles play with a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 6 over Jillian Pagliuca.
NOTES
- Southern New Hampshire is 12-0 for the first time in program history.
- SNHU captures its fourth NE10 title and first since the 2012-13 season. It was the fifth title match appearance for the Penmen.
- SNHU improves to 16-14 (.533) all-time in the NE10 Championship.
- The Penmen are now 22-8 all-time against Franklin Pierce and have won back-to-back meetings.
- Franklin Pierce had knocked the Penmen out of the NE10 Championship in the semifinal round last season in the first NE10 postseason meeting between the two teams.
- Weindl was named the NE10 Championship Most Outstanding Player and was joined on the NE10 All-Championship Team by Kupfer and Etienne.
- Upeniece was presented with the NE10's Elite 24 Award for women's tennis. The Elite 24 Award honors the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site of each of the NE10's 24 Championships.
- Kupfer is now a perfect 11-0 at No. 2 singles.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Penmen will return to action in the spring.
-Recap provided by SNHU athletic communications-
ALL-CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
Verena Weindl, Southern New Hampshire *
Alexxa Etienne, Southern New Hampshire
Alina Kupfer, Southern New Hampshire
Maria Penalver Aguilo, Franklin Pierce
Ana Platisa, Franklin Pierce
Barbara Quagliardi, Adelphi
Paula Casares, Le Moyne
*Most Outstanding Player
ELITE 24 AWARD
Guntra Upeniece, Southern New Hampshire
NE10 Women's Tennis Championship
- Southern New Hampshire (9-0)
- Franklin Pierce (8-1)
- Le Moyne (6-3) *
- New Haven (6-3) *
- Adelphi (6-3) *
- Saint Anselm (4-5)
Semifinals
Match #3: #2 Franklin Pierce 4, #3 Le Moyne 3
Match #4: #1 Southern New Hampshire 4, #5 Adelphi 3
Championship (to be held at highest remaining seed)
Game 5: #1 Southern New Hampshire 4, #2 Franklin Pierce 3
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 13 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.
