Box Score
Box Score

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Barry University women's tennis lost to Armstrong Atlantic, 5-2, in the NCAA Division II Championship match Saturday night.

The Buccaneers (24-2) were making their second straight appearance in the NCAA Finals after beating the Pirates (33-0) a year ago. But this season belonged to Armstrong in another matchup that has become the best rivalry in women's Division II college tennis the last few years.

Barry's Elisabeth Abanda and Kimmy Twelker collected the first point with an 8-6 win over Alejandra Cisneros and Diana Stomlega at No. 3 doubles. But the Pirates won the next two pairs matches to take some momentum into singles. No. 1 Lena Lutzeier and Clara Perez defeated No. 3 Sonja Larsen and Ana Pain, 8-6, at the top position. No. 20 Nicole Fossa Huergo and Carolina Prats-Milan beat No. 4 Linda Fritschken and Emma Onila, 8-4, at No. 2.

Stomlega was a 6-3, 6-2 winner over Twelker at No. 6 singles, ending a run of three straight victories at the NCAA Championships for Barry's junior. Third-ranked Onila gave the Bucs life as she coasted to a 6-3, 6-2 win over 12th-ranked Perez at No. 3 singles. That cut the Pirates lead to 3-2.

With 29th-ranked Fritschken leading 15th-ranked Prats-Milan, 6-4, 3-3, at No. 4 singles, and 45th-ranked Pain in control of her No. 5 singles match with Huergo, ahead 6-0, 4-5, Armstrong halted the Bucs chances by winning the remaining two matches. Tenth-ranked Cisneros defeated 22nd-ranked Abanda, 6-2, 6-3, at the top spot. Fifth-ranked Lutzeier beat fourth-ranked Larsen, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 2.

It marked the sixth straight year Barry and Armstrong have met in the NCAA Championships, two years ago in Surprise in the quarterfinals. Barry's only two losses this year came to the Pirates.

Fritschken capped her career with a school-record 96 doubles victories and a .906 pairs winning percentage. Onila went 10-0 in singles, beating three nationally-ranked opponents. Larsen and Pain were 25-1 in doubles with 10 wins over ranked opponents. Their 25 victories matched the school season record.