No. 37 Women’s Tennis Headed Back to the NCAA Regionals

Women's Tennis | 4/28/2015 12:00:00 AM

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It what now has become old habit, 37th-ranked Goldey-Beacom is going to the NCAA East Regionals for the fifth time in six seasons.

The Lightning are the fourth seed out of six teams and will face Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference-foe Chestnut Hill, ranked 34th, in the first round on Saturday in Brookville, NY at 9:00 am. The winner advances to face top-seeded and 10th-ranked New York Tech on Sunday with that survivor heading to the "Sweet 16" in Surprise, AZ.

This half of regional will take place on the campus of LIU Post (formerly C.W. Post).

Two teams from each of the eight regions go to the "Sweet 16."

It has been yet another impressive campaign for GBC (17-4, 7-1 CACC), which established a new school record for most victories by breaking the mark of 14 set two seasons ago. The Lightning also played in the CACC final for the fourth time in the last six seasons and have advanced to the semifinals each of the last seven years.

Goldey-Beacom also tied the school record with 10 shutouts, first accomplished two seasons ago.

One of the reasons for the Lightning's success has been senior Stephanie Puentes Robinson (Bogota, Colombia), who last fall was named second team All-CACC after being tabbed first team each of her first three seasons. The 2011 and 2012 CACC Player of the Year as well as the league's Rookie of the Year in 2011 is the school's winningest singles player with 59 victories. She also has 48 doubles triumphs and is ranked 16th in the East Region according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).

Puentes Robinson is 16-2 in singles this season, including 13-1 at No. 3 singles, and 15-4 at doubles that includes 12-3 at second doubles.

Sophomore Maria Victoria (Totona, Spain), ranked 15th in the ITA's East Region rankings, also has played solidly in a year which she was tabbed first team All-CACC. She is 14-6 in singles with an appearance in the last 16 at the ITA East Regional and owns a 10-3 mark in doubles.

Freshman Laura Moreno (Murcia, Spain) has made a huge impression with her 11-7 singles mark, including 15 matches at first singles, and was picked second team all-league. The 13th-ranked player in the ITA's East Region rankings also is 14-4 in doubles this year with all matches coming in the top spot.

Sophomore Amina Mrad (Berlin, Germany) also was tabbed second team All-CACC and is on a roll with a 16-2 singles mark, including 9-1 at No. 5 singles. She also is 15-6 at doubles with a 15-5 mark in the two spot.

Senior Filipa Correia (Monte Estoril, Portugal) is among the program's greats with 48 singles wins and 47 doubles triumphs. She owns a 12-3 singles mark this season and is 10-6 in doubles.

Freshman Julia Gutierrez (Quart, Spain) is 11-1 in singles, including 10-1 at the fourth spot, and sports a 9-1 doubles record with an 8-1 mark in the one hole.

Also of great importance is that ninth-year coach Joe Kissel was named CACC Coach of the Year for a third time. He owns a 93-51 record in that span.

Goldey-Beacom is attempting to win a head-to-head NCAA Tournament game/match for the first time in any sport. The College in 2006 notched its first postseason title when the men's golf team captured the NCAA East/Atlantic Regional crown.

The department has not won a head-to-head postseason contest since men's soccer advanced to the 2003 ECAC final. It has not won a head-to-head national postseason contest since softball finished third in the 2003 NAIA Northeast Region Tournament.

GBC is 2-0 against Chestnut Hill this season, recording a 7-2 regular-season win October 1 and a 5-3 triumph October 25 in the CACC semifinals. Gutierrez won both of her matches at fourth singles, Mrad won twice at fifth singles and sophomore Nina Sengl (Puchheim, Germany) twice was victorious at No. 6 singles. Sengl and senior Anastasia Melnikova (Vladivostok, Russia) combined to win twice at third doubles.

Goldey-Beacom and Chestnut Hill have met three times in the conference tournament with the former holding a 2-1 edge, but this is their first postseason encounter. GBC is 0-2 all-time against New York Tech.

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Players Mentioned

Filipa Correia: 5' 6"; Senior

Anastasia Melnikova: 5' 11"; Senior

Stephanie Puentes Robinson: 5' 1"; Senior

Nina Sengl: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Maria Victoria: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Julia Gutierrez: 5' 7"; Freshman

Amina Mrad: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Laura Moreno: 5' 5"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Filipa Correia
: 5' 6"; Senior

Anastasia Melnikova
: 5' 11"; Senior

Stephanie Puentes Robinson
: 5' 1"; Senior

Nina Sengl
: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Maria Victoria
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Julia Gutierrez
: 5' 7"; Freshman

Amina Mrad
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Laura Moreno
: 5' 5"; Freshman