Third-Straight Patriot League Title in Sight for Women’s Tennis
Terriers play in quarterfinals tomorrow in Annapolis
With momentum from a strong regular season finish, the BU women’s tennis team heads to the Patriot League Tournament this weekend. Players hope to capture their third consecutive conference title at the tournament, being held at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
The Terrier women (9-8, 4-0, PL) have earned the number one overall seed in this year’s bracket and on Friday will face the winner of Thursday’s match between number nine Holy Cross and number eight Lafayette at 8 a.m. in the quarterfinal round.
“I think we’ve had a good, strong year, especially in the Patriot League,” says head coach Lesley Sheehan (SED’84). “We’ve gone out and played Army and Navy and Lehigh and have been decisive with our wins there.”
Most recently, the Terriers dismantled Patriot League foes Army West Point, on April 9, and Lehigh, on April 10, both by a score of 7-0, then closed out the regular season April 15 with a nonleague loss to Boston College. The team has won three of its final four matches heading into the postseason, but players know they can’t take anything for granted for this weekend’s matches.
“I think it’s about keeping the focus and executing,” says Johanna Hyoty (Questrom’16). “Our goal is to execute and then hopefully that will bring us the wins.”
The team owes much of its success this season to outstanding play by its four seniors: Hyoty, Madison Craft (SAR’16), Lauren Davis (CAS’16), and Kim McCallum (SAR’16). Hyoty, 2014 and 2015 Patriot League Player of the Year, and Davis, a First Team All-Patriot League selection both years, have led the team with strong play in both singles and doubles action.
“They’re so experienced from playing in these league matches for so many years and they’ve dominated the league, so it’s nice to have them lead the team,” says Sheehan. “But it’s sad, because they’ll be gone next year—they’re amazing athletes and also amazing people.”
“These seniors are great because they lead by example,” says Barbara Rodriguez (CAS’17), who has won 11 singles matches this season. “They set the tone for the team very well and have always been there to look up to.”
For Hyoty and her senior colleagues, the weekend will be bittersweet, win or lose. “I’m really going to miss the people, my teammates, and coaches; they’re just awesome people,” Hyoty says. “We’re so close and the coaches are amazing and so supportive.”
The BU women’s tennis team begins the quest for a third-straight conference title tomorrow, Friday, April 22, at Navy’s Hooper Brigade Sports Complex, 64 Greenbury Point Rd., Annapolis, Md., at 8 a.m. A win will see BU take on the winner of Friday’s game between number five Lehigh and number four Bucknell, on Saturday at 9 a.m. The Patriot League championship will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets to all matches can be purchased at the Hooper Brigade Sports Complex ticket office.
Josh Gutchess can be reached at jgutch12@bu.edu.
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