IMMACULATA, Pa. - The Immaculata University women's tennis team (12-4, 9-1 CSAC) begins its journey towards the program's first-ever Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) title Friday afternoon in the opening round of the CSAC Tournament. As the second seed in the field, the Macs will take on third-seeded Marywood with the winner advancing to Championship Saturday against the victor of the one-four matchup.
Live Stats will be available for all three matches this weekend.
2018 CSAC WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS (Hosted by Gwynedd Mercy)
Legacy Tennis Center (Philadelphia, Pa.) // Friday, April 20
#1 Gwynedd Mercy vs. #4 Clarks Summit - 8:30 a.m.
#2 Immaculata vs. #3 Marywood - 12 p.m. (or 50 minutes following the conclusion of the morning match)
HOW THE MACS MATCH UP
#1 Gwynedd Mercy (12-3, 10-0 CSAC)
2018 Result: L, 9-0 (4/17)
The top seed in this year's tournament came down to the final match of the regular season between the Gwynedd and Immaculata, as both squads entered play with 9-0 conference records. After inclement weather interrupted play in the middle of the doubles matches, the two sides resumed a day later as the Griffins took victories in all nine matches.
The match at Gwynedd was also the first loss in CSAC action for freshman
Caleigh Masterman at first singles, as she fell 6-1, 6-3. It also marked the first time this season that Masterman and
Morgan Jacob were dropped at the first doubles slot in conference action all season.
Should the Macs defeat Marywood in their first round matchup Friday afternoon, a rematch between the two conference powers in the CSAC Championship would be likely.
#3 Marywood (8-4, 8-2 CSAC)
2018 Result: W, 7-2 (4/15)
Immaculata matches up opposite Marywood in the CSAC semifinal round Friday afternoon with a chance to advance to the finals on the line. The Pacers' only losses in conference play this season have come to the only two teams seeded higher than themselves: Gwynedd and Immaculata.
The Macs defeated the Pacers for their fourth win of what became a five-match win streak late in the season.
Susan Callahan and
Caitlin Savage made quick work of their opponent at second doubles in an 8-0 victory, before the Macs turned in wins in five of the six singles matches to take a 7-2 decision. Callahan and Jacob battled in third-set tiebreakers to earn victories in singles play.
#4 Clarks Summit (7-5, 7-3 CSAC)
2018 Result: W, 7-2 (4/13)
Immaculata clinched its fifth-straight CSAC playoff berth with a 7-2 road win over Clarks Summit back on April 13, as IU swept all three doubles matches to gain an early advantage.
The Macs won four of the six singles matches over the Defenders - all in straight sets - as the two losses came in third-set tiebreakers.
Elizabeth Lipscomb at fifth singles and
Catherine Zirolli at sixth both secured wins after completing an 8-5 victory at third doubles earlier in the day.
The Defenders have lost three CSAC matches on the year, all to the three teams seeded above them in this year's tournament.
