UPDATE: West Virginia State defeated Edinboro by a score of 5-2 on Monday afternoon in Greensburg Racquet Club, advancing to face IUP in the second round. Due to the possibility of inclement weather on Tuesday, the match could be moved indoors. Check back here for updates.
Original preview written on April 29:
MATCH DAY CENTRAL
(A1) IUP Crimson Hawks (19-5, 5-1 PSAC West)
vs. (A4) West Virginia State Yellow Jackets (12-8, 7-0 MEC)
or (A5) Edinboro Fighting Scots (11-6, 4-2 PSAC West)
Tuesday, May 2, 2017 | 1:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Maple Street Courts
Live Updates: Twitter |
@iuptennis
AT A GLANCE
The No. 1 seed Crimson Hawks square off against the West Virginia State / Edinboro winner in the finals of the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region I Championships on Tuesday afternoon at the Maple Street Courts. IUP earned the right to host the top part of the bracket after earning the top seed, and welcome fourth seed West Virginia State and fifth seed Edinboro for Monday's semifinals (noon).
STORYLINES / WHAT TO WATCH FOR
* IUP is making its eighth straight, and 10th overall, appearance in the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships; It's the sixth consecutive year IUP has acted as a regional host, and their first as the top overall seed
* The Crimson Hawks are seeking their seventh straight NCAA Championships (round of 16) appearance with a win on Tuesday
* IUP has a combined 3-0 record against West Virginia State and Edinboro this year, without dropping a single point in any match; IUP defeated West Virginia State 9-0 on April 14, and chalked up wins over Edinboro of 9-0 (March 29) in the regular season and 5-0 (April 18) in the PSAC quarterfinals
* Since the 2010-11 season, IUP is 7-0 against West Virginia State, with the closest win coming in 2011 (6-3); IUP is 8-0 against Edinboro during the same time period, dropping just one point in those matches (8-1 victory in 2016)
* The PSAC announced its postseason awards on Wednesday, with four Crimson Hawks earning accolades, including: first team singles -
Jarka Petercakova (Bratislava, Slovakia/Sport Gymnasium),
Luise von Agris (Castrop-Rauxel, Germany/Adalbet-Stifter-Gymnasium) and
Raquel Gonzalez (San Sebastian, Spain/Colegio Sagrado Corazon); first team doubles - Petercakova/von Agris; second team doubles - Gonzalez/
Rachel Wood (Nottingham, U.K./West Bridgrord)
IUP IN THE RANKINGS
Petercakova
Singles - third in Atlantic / Doubles - 16th in Division II, first in Atlantic
Von Agris
Singles - fourth in Atlantic Region / Doubles - 16th in Division II, first in Atlantic
Gonzalez
Singles - sixth in Atlantic
Minchenkova
Singles - 14th in Atlantic
