Box Score Box ScoreMIAMI SHORES, Fla. --
Linda Fritschken remembers her first days with the women's tennis team at Barry University. It seems almost like yesterday.
"I mean honestly, it just felt like last year that I came here," the senior from Berlin, Germany said. "I have all the memories. I still remember when I came as a freshman. Everything was new, but I'm so happy that I came to Barry. I never really doubted my decision, and all the titles and the accomplishments ... we all work hard on the team. The coaching staff, the people around, they help you a lot. It's just great to see your work paying off that way."
Add another accomplishment to the list for Fritschken and the Buccaneers after No. 2 Barry swept No. 5 Saint Leo, 9-0, Saturday to win the Sunshine State Conference regular season title. It was the second straight regular season league crown for the Buccaneers (18-1, 8-0 SSC).
Fritschken, who along with
Elisabeth Abanda, a native of Montreal, Quebec, were honored on Senior Day after playing their final regular season matches at Buccaneer Tennis Center. Both won two matches to help Barry record its fourth straight shutout and 11th of the season.
Fritschken and
Emma Onila, who are ranked No. 3 in the country, beat Paula Montoya and Gabrielle Paul, 8-2, at No. 2 doubles. That followed No. 9
Sonja Larsen and
Ana Pain's 8-2 victory over No. 8 Isabella Robbiani and Maria Benkirane at the No. 1 spot. Abanda and
Kimmy Twelker defeated Marine Beugre-Guyot and Pauline Helgesson, 8-2, at No. 3 to send the Buccaneers into singles with a 3-0 lead.
Fritschken's doubles victory was her school-leading 90th of her career.
"I still remember the days, and I was so far away from this record," Fritschken said, recalling her first year at Barry when the seniors then were nearing milestone marks. "Now when I saw the record I was shocked, honestly, how many times I played, especially in doubles. I had great partners, and especially the last year with Emma. That was the best combination, the best doubles player I ever played with."
Abanda authored a 6-1, 6-3 win over Benkirane for the first singles win at the No. 2 flight. It was her fifth straight win, the last four in straight sets. Third-ranked Onila beat Beugre-Guyot, 7-5, 6-0, at No. 3 singles to clinch the title. Pain, who owns the No. 19 ranking in the South Region, beat Helgesson, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 5 singles. Fritschken, who is ranked No. 27 in the country, defeated Montoya, 6-2, 6-4, for the fourth singles win at the No. 4 flight. Twelker held off Paul, 6-4, 7-5, at No. 5. Sixth-ranked Larsen pulled out a 6-2, 5-7, 10-8 battle over 14th-ranked Robbiani at No. 1 singles in the longest match of the day.
Fritschken's singles victory was the 66th of her career, which ranks sixth all-time at Barry.
"In the introductions, when you see your teammates lining up and you hear all the accomplishments you did, I mean the memories are coming back," said Fritschken, who couldn't contain her emotions. "I was crying." Happy tears, of course. Now she and the Bucs turn their attention towards the postseason. Barry will compete in the Sunshine State Conference Tournament next week at Saint Leo. Barry has won the past five SSC Tournament titles.
"The postseason is definitely the most important part of the season," Fritschken said. "That's what we all work for. Now every match counts because every match can be the last one. But I know from my teammates, we give everything we can. We definitely want to win that title again."
