BRADENTON, Fla. -- Zuza Maciejewska had been feeling the void. As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Absence no more.
Maciejewska returned to the singles lineup, helping Barry University's No. 1-ranked women's tennis team shut out No. 9 Saint Leo, 5-0, Friday in the Sunshine State Conference Championship at IMG Academy. Maciejewska, who had not played in the singles lineup in 17 days, authored a 6-2, 6-2 win over Madeleine Gauthier at No. 4 singles to clinch the win for the Bucs.
"First of all, it's great to be back in the singles lineup," Maciejewska said. "I was happy with the way I played, and I was happy with the way the whole team played."
Now what awaits is a championship match against their arch rivals.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Barry 5, Saint Leo 0
Records: Barry (22-0), Saint Leo (17-6)
DOUBLES:
- Fourth-ranked Verena Schmid and Larsen beat 24th-ranked Maja Pindelska and Gauthier, 8-2, at No. 1 doubles.
- Forty fifth-ranked Julie Razafindranaly and Hannah Seizer defeated Marta Vicens Miquel and Andrada Gordan, 8-3, at No. 2. That gave the Bucs a 2-Love lead.
- Forty ninth-ranked Carolin Schmidt and Maciejewska survived an 8-6 battle with Kristyna Jurkova and Sophie Vietstra at No. 3.
- It is the 18th time this season Barry has swept doubles.
SINGLES:
- Second-ranked Sonja Larsen was a 6-3, 6-1 winner over Pindelska at No. 3 singles to pad the Buccaneers lead to 4-0.
- With Barry up a set two other matches and leading in the rest, Maciejewska finished the Lions off with her straight sets victory.
- The Buccaneers improved to 96-13 in singles matches this season.
NOTEWORTHY:
- Barry swept doubles in both matches against Saint Leo this season.
- Maciejewska had suffered losses after retiring in her previous two matches. She was 8-0 up until that point.
- Larsen recorded her team-leading 19th singles victory.
- The Buccaneers will meet Lynn to decide the league tournament champion for the third straight year.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
"It's going to be a good challenge, but we are well prepared. There is a lot of confidence in our team."
-- Bucs junior Verena Schmid on playing Lynn for the championship
ON THE HORIZON:
Barry will play No. 5 Lynn for the title 9 a.m. Saturday.
BOX SCORE