Terriers Set to Open PL Title Defense Friday Afternoon
April 23, 2015 | Women's Tennis
April 23, 2015
Patriot League Tournament Central
BOSTON - Looking to defend its title, the Boston University women's tennis team will open the 2015 Patriot League Tournament on Friday against Bucknell at Colgate Joseph W. Abrahamson Tennis Courts with quarterfinals set for 3 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, competition will move to the Sportsplex at Turning Stone in Verona, N.Y.
Led by 30th-year head coach Lesley Sheehan, the Terriers (11-7) have claimed a total of 23 conference titles and 14 NCAA postseason appearances. Seeded second, they will enter the tournament as the only team in the Patriot League to have only lost to opponents that are or were ranked in the ITA national poll this season.
Navy (18-6) will be the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2012 after posting a 4-0 conference record alongside the Terriers. Due to the seeding, BU is on track to face 2014 PL runner-up Army West Point (14-10, 5-2 PL) in the semifinals. The Terriers earlier claimed a 5-2 win over the Black Knights but have yet to face Navy since joining the Patriot League in the summer of 2013.
Before meeting either military academy though, the Terriers will have to get through No. 7 seed Bucknell (6-14, 2-4 PL) in the quarterfinals. The two squads did not meet this season, but BU blanked the Bison, 4-0, last year in the Patriot League semifinals.
In total, the Terriers return six of seven players who participated in last year's 4-1 PL championship win over Army, but senior Sami Lieb (#4 singles in 2014) has been sidelined for much of the season by injury.
BU enters this season's tourney featuring four players with at least 11 singles wins. Reigning Patriot League Player of the Year Johanna Hyoty owns a team-high 18 victories with an 11-7 dual season record. Previously ranked in the ITA top-125 singles poll, she has won three PL Player of the Week honors this year.
2014 All-PL First Team honoree Lauren Davis has won her last three singles matches at No. 2 and is 9-8 this spring for an 11-12 overall record. Freshman Iryna Kostirko (16-10) replaced alum Leonie-Charlotte Athanasiadis ('14) at No. 3 and has been impressive with an 11-3 mark in the slot, highlighted by a thrilling three-set win that clinched the team win over UConn.
Sophomore Barbara Rodriguez has also been strong at No. 4, moving up a slot from last year with the absence of Lieb. She owns an 8-2 mark with one win at No. 3 for a 15-10 overall record. Sophomore Iris Lin (9-8) and junior Madison Craft (7-12) have combined for a 6-7 record at No. 5, and junior Kim McCallum (5-14) is 4-5 at No. 6 to help the Terriers.
BU is a combined 58-43 overall in singles this spring and has been more vulnerable in doubles with a combined 23-23 record. Hyoty and Rodriguez have won their last two matches and are 5-5 together at No. 1 doubles.
Craft and Davis own a team-high 10 wins together and went 8-9 in the spring, including 6-6 at No. 2. Multiple teams have played at No. 3 with Kostirko and McCallum working together for a team-high three wins with four losses.
If the Terriers get past Bucknell, they next face either Army West Point or Colgate on Saturday at 2 p.m.
2015 Patriot League Women's Tennis Tournament Schedule
Friday, April 24 - Quarterfinals
#1 Navy vs. #8 Lafayette, 9 a.m.
#4 Lehigh vs. #5 Loyola, 12 p.m.
#2 Boston U. vs. #7 Bucknell, 3 p.m.
#3 Army vs. #6 Colgate, 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 25 - Semifinals
1/8 winner vs. 4/5 winner, 10 a.m.
2/7 winner vs. 3/6 winner, 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 26 - Championship
Patriot League Championship, 12 p.m.
