Binghamton, NY — For the second-consecutive year, the SUNY New Paltz women’s tennis team is State University of New York Athletic Champions.
The top-seeded Hawks, with a record of 9-1 overall and 7-0 within their conference, had a rematch of last year’s title game with Catskill Cup rival No. 2 seed SUNY Oneonta (12-4, 6-1). The Red Dragons gave the defending champs a fight, forcing SUNY New Paltz to a tie-breaker at third doubles and needed three wins in singles to complete its repeat season.
Trinity Chow and Laura Koob earned the win at first doubles, defeating Mya Lipscomb and Maxie Karen, 8-2. Although Oneonta took the win at second doubles, Alexandra Dratch and Onalee Batcheller made sure to close out at third doubles, winning the tie-breaker and taking an 8-7 victory.
Koob then defeated Madeline Carswell, 6-1, 6-0 at second singles, while Batcheller earned a win at fifth singles over Emily Greene, 6-1, 6-2. Rebecca Macdonald kept the Red Dragons alive with a win at sixth singles and the championship came down to No. 1 singles.
With a SUNYAC Championship on the line, Chow needed one last win over Lipscomb to clinch her team’s second consecutive title. Chow, a reigning SUNYAC MVP, likely to take home another, made sure to cement the victory. She had defeated Lipscomb earlier in the year, 6-0, 6-0, and on Sunday again came out victorious, pulling away for a tight 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 win to help SUNY New Paltz to its sixth conference crown.
In my past 18 finals this was by far the most intense. I’m exhausted. The girls played out of their skins. Oneonta pushed us all the way.”
– Hawks Coach Rob Bruley
It is just the second time the program has won back-to-back titles, accomplishing the feat during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Chow was named Tournament MVP following her impressive performance. Koob and Batcheller were named to the All-Tournament team as well in singles play, while the duos of Chow and Koob and Batcheller and Dratch also made the list at doubles.
SUNY New Paltz will enjoy its back-to-back run and will again fight through a tough NCAA Tournament in May. Last season the team got through the first round with a win over Husson University, and they hope to build toward a deeper run in 2020.
“Very proud of this group of athletes for what they have achieved,” Bruley said. “We set out our goal on August 17 and today we achieved our objectives. Looking forward to another NCAA Championships.”
By Monica D’Ippolito, Athletic Communications Director
To read the original story, visit https://nphawks.com/news/2019/10/13/suny-new-paltz-womens-tennis-repeat-as-sunyac-champions-after-5-2-win-over-no-2-seed-oneonta.aspx?path=wten and keep up with the rest of the Hawks athletic teams!
