IMMACULATA, Pa. – The back-to-back Atlantic East Champion Immaculata women's tennis team will begin its campaign to defend the championship title on Thursday afternoon as the Mighty Macs host Marymount in a 3:00 P.M. semifinal matchup.
 
If the Mighty Macs come out victorious on Thursday, they will return to the Atlantic East Championship for the fourth straight season as they look to secure their third-straight championship title.
 
"As a member of the 2019 championship team, seeing this team continue to strive and maintain the title for the past couple years is something to be extremely proud of," said assistant coach Susan Callahan ('19). "Chasing a championship win and entering the playoffs is an amazing accomplishment. Being able to attend the playoffs again this season is just another achievement for the Mighty Macs
 
Immaculata (5-11, 4-1 AEC) owned a difficult out-of-conference schedule on the season. After opening up the conference schedule on April 6^th with a 7-2 loss to Marywood, Immaculata has gone on a four-match win streak that includes a 6-3 victory over Marymount on April 10^th. The Mighty Macs then went on to defeat Gwynedd Mercy 7-2, Neumann 9-0, and Cabrini 8-1.
 
"Even though we have previously secured a win against Marymount, I do not want the women to remain comfortable, because outcomes of game-play can change," described Callahan. "To prepare for this match, we are analyzing the game of play that we experienced facing Marymount the first time. We are practicing our game play and learning to place balls that cause the opponent to be unresponsive or causing errors."
 
Junior Annamarie Degnan claimed the Macs' first singles position on the season, owning a 3-2 record in conference play this season. Degnan has also paired with freshman Pamela Kontaras to secure a perfect 5-0 record in conference first doubles action. Kontaras has also earned a perfect 5-0 record for the Mighty Macs in third singles in conference play.
 
The Mighty Macs' two seniors, Jessica Dougherty and Kelly O'Brien, have also performed well in second doubles this season, going 4-1 in conference as a unit. Dougherty has also touted a 4-1 conference record out of second singles while O'Brien has earned a serviceable 2-3 record out of fourth singles.
 
Sophomores Jenna Muttik and Audrey Keen, meanwhile, have performed well out of third doubles, earning a 3-2 record in conference play on the season. Keen has earned a 2-3 record out of fifth singles while Muttik has gone 4-1 in conference play in sixth singles to close out a strong Immaculata lineup.
 
"I have been very fortunate with an amazing group of women who play consistently with giving their all in each and every match," continued Callahan. "Tennis is a difficult sport not only physically, but mentally. When you're on the court you are by yourself, you do not have a teammate to pass the ball to, but every point the point won or lost is done independently in your own match. I do not believe any one player specifically has stood out but each individual on this team contributes their own wins and own points to the match's final score."
 
Marymount enters Thursday's match having concluded the season with a 3-2 record in Atlantic East play. Most recently, Marymount was on the receiving end of 9-0 sweep from Marywood.
 
"My main message to the team going into Thursday is 'good luck and play smart, do not let the opponent influence your game play. Remain in control of the point. Let's get this win!'" concluded Callahan.