April 26, 2009

2009 Patriot League Women's Tennis Championship page

Lewisburg, Pa. - No. 1 Army won its tenth overall and fifth-straight Patriot League title after beating No. 2 seed and tournament host Bucknell, 4-1, on Sunday. Army junior Kristin Beehler and sophomore Robie Verano shared the John "Pat" Rooney Award as co-tournament MVPs.

In the most competitive doubles matches of the tournament, the Black Knights picked up a hard-fought doubles point with a 2-1 win. At No. 1 doubles, Bucknell's Lauren Lucido and Paulina Gamboa handed Army's Niki Flach and Michael Tollerton an 8-1 loss, while Army's No. 2 team of Annie Houghton and Kristin Beehler defeated Bucknell's Tania Varela and Carlin Calcaterra, 8-5. With the doubles score tied at one, the point came down to the No. 3 match between Bucknell's Dara Dwojewski and Ashley Globerman and Army's Sarah Giles-Madden and Robie Verano. The pair of Black Knights pulled off an 8-4 win, giving Army an early, 1-0 lead over the Bison.

But Bucknell evened the score at 1-1 when No. 3 Paulina Gamboa defeated Army's Sarah Giles-Madden, 6-3, 6-0 in singles play. The Black Knights won the next two matches, with No. 6 Robie Verano defeating Bucknell's Lauren Rottkamp, 6-0, 7-5, and Michael Tollerton of Army defeating Dara Dwojewski, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 5 singles. Army's No. 4 Kristin Beehler sealed the victory for the Black Knights with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Bucknell's Demi Iepuras.

The Black Knights have beaten the Bison each of the last five years in the Patriot League Tournament final during Army's current title streak.

With the win, Army secures the Patriot League's automatic berth to the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The pairings will be announced on ESPNews on April 28 at approximately 5:20 p.m., with first-round action taking place at campus sites May 8-9 or May 9-10.

For more information about the 2009 Patriot League Women's Tennis Championship, please visit www.PatriotLeague.com or visit the Women's Tennis Championship page that can be accessed here.

2009 Patriot League Women's Tennis Championship Match

Results:

No. 1 Army 4, No. 2 Bucknell 1

Doubles:

1. Lauren Lucido/Paulina Gamboa, Bucknell def. Niki Flach/Michael Tollerton, Army 8-1

2. Annie Houghton/Kristin Beehler, Army def. Tania Varela/Ashley Globerman, Bucknell 8-5

3. Sarah Giles-Madden/Robie Verano, Army def. Dara Dwojewski/Ashley Globerman, Bucknell 8-4

Order of finish: 1, 2, 3

Singles:

1. Annie Houghton, Army ahead Tania Varela, Bucknell 6-3, 5-3

2. Lauren Lucido, Bucknell ahead Niki Flach, Army 6-2, 1-4

3. Paulina Gamboa, Bucknell def. Sarah Giles-Madden, Army 6-3, 6-0

4. Kristin Beehler, Army def. Demi Iepuras, Bucknell 6-2, 6-2

5. Michael Tollerton, Army def. Dara Dwojewski, Bucknell 6-1, 6-1

6. Robie Verano, Army def. Lauren Rottkamp, Bucknell 6-0, 7-5

Order of finish: 3, 6, 5, 4