Barry Women's Tennis Wins Third Straight National Championship

Barry Women's Tennis Wins Third Straight National Championship

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Bucs defeat Lynn 4-2 for the title

By: Dennis Jezek | Barry University Sports information

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Top-seeded Barry defeated #3 Lynn 4-2 to win the 2019 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis National Championship on Saturday at Sanlando Park.

The win propels the Bucs to their third straight women's tennis championship and fifth overall. As a whole, the Buccaneers have now won 22 NCAA Division II Championships after also taking men's soccer in the fall and men's tennis this spring. The three titles in this academic year break the record set in four previous seasons of two (2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17). The three straight by women's tennis also is the most for the Buccaneer program, breaking the mark of two they held with women's soccer (1992-93), men's golf (2013-14) and rowing (2015-16).

COMPLETE LISTING: SSC National Championships

Barry won the doubles point by winning at No. 2 and in a tie-breaker at No. 3, then clinched it by winning No. 5, No. 3 and No. 2 singles.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: #1 Barry 4, #3 Lynn 2
Records: Barry 26-2, Lynn 27-1 

DOUBLES:

  1. #5 Leolia Jeanjean/Ulyana Grib (Lynn) def. #39 Jil Engelmann/Eleonore Barrere (Barry); 6-0
  2. #2 Verena Schmid/Zuza Maciejewska (Barry) def. Federica Mordegan/Eliska Petrackova (Lynn) 6-3 
  3. Carolin Schmidt/Julie Razafindranaly (Barry) def. Giorgia Pigato/Eleonora Liga (Lynn) 7-6 (5)

SINGLES:

  1. #8 Leolia Jeanjean (Lynn) def. #30 Carolin Schmidt (Barry); 6-1, 6-3
  2. #69 Verena Schmid (Barry) def. Ulyana Grib (Lynn); 6-4, 7-5
  3. #48 Jil Engelmann (Barry) def. Federica Mordegan (Lynn) 6-2, 6-3
  4. Zuza Maciejewska (Barry) vs. Eleonora Liga (Lynn); 7-6 (3), 4-0, unfinished
  5. Julie Razafindranaly (Barry) def. Eliska Petrackova (Lynn) 6-0, 6-3
  6. Giorgia Pigato (Lynn) def. Eleonore Barrere (Barry) 6-4, 6-2

NOTEWORTHY:

  • The win is the third straight championship for women's tennis and the fifth overall.
  • The three straight titles ties Armstrong (2008-10), BYU-Hawai'i (2002-04) and Chattanooga (1983-85) for the second-most consecutive women's tennis titles in Division II. SIU-Edwadsville (1986-89) has the record with four straight.
  • The Bucs trailed 4-2 at No. 3 doubles before coming back to force a tie-breaker which they won 7-5.
  • Schmid, after winning the first set 6-4, trailed 5-2 in the second set, but won five straight games to take the match 7-5 and clinch the championship.
  • With the men also winning the championship this spring, Barry becomes the first school to win both since Armstrong in 2012.
  • Lynn defeated Barry 5-2 in the regular season, snapping the Bucs' 69-match winning streak. Barry operated without senior star Verena Schmid who has now returned to the lineup.
  • The win for the Bucs was their 80th in the NCAA Tournament, the second-most among active schools. Lynn has 84.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: