NORTH BERGEN, N.J. (May 4, 2023) – Junior Emma Eguia won the match-clinching point for the Ducks as the #1 Stevens Institute of Technology women's tennis team defeated #2 Misericordia 5-4 Saturday afternoon in the MAC Freedom finals.
Eguia was named the championship MVP.
Stevens took home their third-straight MAC Freedom championship with the victory. The Ducks have now beaten Misericordia in the last two finals, as they won 5-1 over the Cougars last year. The Ducks will now head to the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight year. Misericordia finishes the season 14-3.
Trailing in two matches early on, Stevens was able to rally to win two of three to take a 2-1 lead after doubles. Sophomore Stephanie Untermeyer and first-year Alix Dry had the easier time on the first line, as they secured a 8-4 victory. First-year Julianna Gomez and junior Isabella Dona earned a decisive comeback win in the second line as the Ducks took the lead.
Singles did not go as easy for the Ducks. Untermeyer and Gomez each won quickly in their respective matches, but the Cougars were able to win three of the other matches in straight sets as the match was then tied at four. Eguia, who had lost 6-0 in set one, stormed back and won the last two sets of her match 6-2, 6-1 to give Stevens the conference title.
The Rundown
DOUBLES
Stephanie Untermeyer/
Alix Dry (SIOT) def. Brianna Pizzano/Emily Brecker (MIS), 8-4
Hailey Loughlin/Lydia Barbour (MIS)
Polina Odintseva/
Lorena Piegas (SIOT) def., 8-6
Julianna Gomez/
Isabella Dona (SIOT) def. Erin Cridge/Isabella Aniska (MIS), 8-7
SINGLES
Brianna Pizzano (MIS) def.
Alix Dry (SIOT), 6-3, 6-4
Stephanie Untermeyer (SIOT) def. Hailey Loughlin (MIS), 6-1, 6-0
Julianna Gomez (SIOT) def. Emily Brecker (MIS), 6-2, 6-4
Lydia Barbour (MIS) def.
Polina Odintseva (SIOT), 6-3, 6-3
Emma Eguia (SIOT) def. Erin Cridge (MIS), 0-6, 6-2, 6-1
Isabella Aniska (MIS) def.
Julia Chiovitti (SIOT), 6-0, 6-0
Top Performers
- Eguia has won her last seven singles matches.
- Gomez was the only Duck to win two matches.
Around the MAC Freedom
Up Next: The Ducks earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament with the win today. The Ducks now await the selection show, which is Monday at 12 p.m., to determine their next opponent. Appropriate links for the NCAA Tournament will be posted to stevensducks.com.
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