Barry University Athletics

Jim Hogue

Barry women's tennis team won its ninth SSC Tournament title, beating Saint Leo 5-0.

Women's Tennis 4/25/2015 12:52:00 PM Jim McCurdy

Women's Tennis Captures 6th Straight SSC Tournament Title, 9th Overall

Buccaneers beat Saint Leo, 5-0; advance to NCAA Regional

Box Score
Box Score

SAINT LEO, Fla. -- Barry University women's tennis team has formed a dynasty within the league. The No. 2-ranked Buccaneers won their sixth straight Sunshine State Conference Tournament title Saturday, beating No. 5 Saint Leo, 5-0.

It is Barry's ninth league tournament title overall.

"This was a tough tournament, and I'm very happy with the way we played in both the semifinals yesterday and today in the championship," Barry seventh-year coach Avi Kigel said. "All the girls played really well, singles and doubles. Very rewarding for winning the sixth in a row, and after a long year of training hard and doing all the right things, this is a great start for our postseason."

Barry (20-1) will advance to the NCAA Division II South Regional next weekend. The Bucs are expected to host the regional at Buccaneer Tennis Center, and will find out for sure Tuesday night at 8 p.m. during the NCAA Selection Show, which will air in Bucky's Cove on campus. All students and fans are welcome to join the team Tuesday night.

The Buccaneers beat the Lions (18-5) for the second time in as many weekends after finishing the regular season with a win over Saint Leo in Miami Shores. This time they did it by setting the tone early with dominant doubles play. Ninth-ranked Sonja Larsen and Ana Pain beat Isabella Robbiani and Maria Benkirane, 8-3, at the No. 1 position. Third-ranked Linda Fritschken and Emma Onila defeated Paula Montoya and Gabrielle Paul by the same score at No. 2 pairs. Elisabeth Abanda and Kimmy Twelker were 8-2 winners over Marine Beugre-Guyot and Pauline Helgesson at No. 3.

Twelker rolled past Paul, 6-2, 6-1, at No. 6 singles to pad the Bucs lead to 4-0. Sixth-ranked Larsen clinched the title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Benkirane at No. 2 singles.

Abanda, Onila, Fritschken and Pain all won their first sets in their respective singles matches when Barry secured the fifth team point to wrap it up.

Barry will be making its 24th NCAA Tournament appearance at next weekend's South Regional.

"Now we are really looking forward to the South Regional," Kigel said. "We're going to get a couple good teams coming to our home, but we have one week to train and get ready. This is our next goal, to win the regional and hopefully move forward to the nationals."

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Players Mentioned

Sonja Larsen: 5' 10"; Freshman

Ana Pain: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Kimmy Twelker: 6' 0"; Junior

Elisabeth Abanda: 5' 6"; Junior

Linda Fritschken: 5' 10"; Senior

Emma Onila: 5' 5"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Sonja Larsen
: 5' 10"; Freshman

Ana Pain
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Kimmy Twelker
: 6' 0"; Junior

Elisabeth Abanda
: 5' 6"; Junior

Linda Fritschken
: 5' 10"; Senior

Emma Onila
: 5' 5"; Junior