IUP took a huge step towards a berth in the PSAC playoffs with a 6-3 win over Slippery Rock in its first match at the new Maple Street Courts that were renovated last fall.

The Crimson Hawks are 11-5 overall and 1-2 in the PSAC West with one division match remaining at Clarion on Tuesday. Slippery Rock is 12-4 and 1-1 in the PSAC West but still must play the top two teams in Mercyhurst and California.

The top three teams in both divisions qualify for the PSAC tournament, which begins April 18.

IUP entered the match ranked No. 38 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, one spot ahead of Slippery Rock. The Crimson Hawks and the Rock are also second and third, respectively, in the Atlantic Region.

IUP opened with wins in two of the three doubles matches, including victories by Katie Eaton (Halesowen, United Kingdom/Haybridge) and Tabtip Louhabanjong (Krabi, Thailand/West Anchorage (AK)) at No. 1 and a victory in a tiebreaker by Alex Ballard (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) and Emilia Osborne (Leighton Buzzard, United Kingdom/Cedars ) at No. 3.

The Crimson Hawks clinched the win with victories in four singles matches, with Louhabanjong rallying from one set down to defeat Drmac Dunja. Osborne, Ranvita Mahto (Burlington, ON/Robert Bateman) and Kelly McBryan (Grove City/Grove City) all won in straight sets.

IUP plays non-conference matches Friday against West Virginia State at the Ebensburg Tennis Center and Saturday against Charleston at the Maple Street Courts.

Singles
No. 1 - Sarah Lynch (SRU) d. Katie Eaton (Halesowen, United Kingdom/Haybridge) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 - Tabtip Louhabanjong (Krabi, Thailand/West Anchorage (AK)) (IUP) d. Drmac Dunja 1-6, 6-4, 10-4
No. 3 - Emilia Osborne (Leighton Buzzard, United Kingdom/Cedars ) (IUP) d. Lizzie Yetiskul 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 - Ranvita Mahto (Burlington, ON/Robert Bateman) (IUP) d. Janelle Krantz 6-3, 6-1
No. 5 - Kelly McBryan (Grove City/Grove City) (IUP) d. Lauren Coggins 6-4, 6-3
No. 6 - Sam Bruggeman (SRU) d. Alex Ballard (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1

Doubles
No. 1 - Eaton/Louhabanjong (IUP) d. Lynch/Krantz 8-4
No. 2 - Dunja/Coggins (SRU) d. Mahto/McBryan 8-2
No. 3 - Ballard/Osborne (IUP) d. Yetiskul/Bruggeman 9-8 (7-5)