GREENSBURG, Pa. — IUP women's tennis defeated Slippery Rock for a third time this season, securing a spot in the NCAA Round of 16 with a 4-2 victory on Saturday at the Greensburg Racquet Club.
With the win, the Crimson Hawks advanced to the program's 12th NCAA Division II Championships in the last 14 years. IUP will head to Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Florida and open championship play on Monday, May 20.
IUP has won its regional pod six times since 2017, moving to 25-15 all-time in NCAA Tournament play. The NCAA takes two teams from each region for the national championships, 16 teams in total.
The Crimson Hawks have bested Slippery Rock in three consecutive years in both the conference championship match and regional round of 32. IUP knocked off SRU April 1 at Maple Street Courts, May 4 in the PSAC Championship in Bloomsburg and during Saturday's Round of 32 victory.
It marks the 12th straight win for IUP against Slippery Rock, posting a 23-1 mark against the divisional foe since 2011. Saturday's contest had no shortage of tightly contested matchups with half the singles matches went to a decisive third set.
Ultimately,
Hannah Beitat outlasted Nuria Martin Lopez for a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 victory. It was the 41st win of the season for Beitat, posting her 11th straight singles win. Both Beitat and
Nuria Martin Lopez were battling fatigue and nagging injuries late in the match in a hard-fought singles clash.
The Crimson Hawks claimed the all-important doubles point, clinched by Beitat and
Veronica Sirci.
Katy Graydon and
Lydia Vlachou began the match with a rolling 6-2 victory at No. 2 doubles.
Vlachou pushed the Hawks ahead 2-1 with a 6-2, 6-1 victory, the 65th singles win of her IUP career.
Vlachou and Graydon had a memorable day, attending IUP's commencement ceremony earlier in the morning to receive their bachelor's degrees before joining the team in Greensburg.
Sirci held on for a 6-6 (7-4), 6-3 win against Tina Slovak. Graydon and Beitat were each in a third set, looking for the clinching point.
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For up-to-date game information, visit IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP women's tennis on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPtennis.
