Results

SLIPPERY ROCK, PA - Four different Crimson Hawks won a pair of matches as No. 41 IUP won a key battle of top Atlantic Region teams with a convincing 8-1 win over No. 44 Slippery Rock in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division women's tennis match on Tuesday afternoon.

The Crimson Hawks set the tone early, winning all three doubles matches to take control. Katie Eaton (Halesowen, United Kingdom/Haybridge) and Tabtip Louhabanjong (Krabi, Thailand/West Anchorage (AK)) held off a tough battle with Sarah Lynch and Dunja Drmac at number one, fending off a match point to win 9-8 (8-6). Another close battle came at number two as Emilia Osborne and Tanya Timko (Cannonsburg, PA/Chartiers-Houston) also held off Slippery Rock's match point to rally for a 9-7 victory over Elisabeth Yetiskul and Lauren Coggins.

The doubles win for Osborne gives her 65 for her career, tying Jackie Kulp for first place all-time in school history.

IUP's victory at number three came with a little more breathing room, with Erika Schnaas (Mexico City, Mexico/Escuela Nacional Preparatoria ) and Ranvita Mahto (Burlington, ON/Robert Bateman) claiming an 8-1 win over Janelle Krantz and Bruggeman. 

In singles action, it was a battle of top players at number one as Lynch defeated Louhabanjong 6-3, 6-3, The Rock's only win of the day. Lynch entered today as the region's second ranked singles player while Louhanbanjong is ranked 10th.

Timko would have the closest match of the day, winning set one 7-6 (7-4) before falling in set two 1-6. She'd then rally, winning 10-3 in the super-breaker to take the win at number two over Drmac. 

The rest of the wins for the Crimson Hawks were a little easier, but still competitive. Eaton took down Yetiskul at number three 6-2, 6-3 while at four, Abby McCormick (Bethel Park, Pa. /Bethel Park) beat Krantz 6-2, 6-0. Osborne won at number five, defeating Coggins 6-4, 7-5, a match in which she rallied from 5-2 down. Schnaas finishes off the win for IUP with a 6-2, 6-0 defeat of Bruggeman at number six.

The result gives both teams identical 3-1 PSAC West records and clinched spots in the conference tournament as a rematch will happen in the quarterfinals of the team championships on April 17, a match that will be played at IUP.

The Crimson Hawks (13-6 overall) are back in action this weekend with non-conference matches at the University of Charleston on Friday and West Virginia State on Saturday.