North Andover, Mass. - There will be a new Northeast-10 Conference champion crowned in women's tennis this year, as three-time defending champions Adelphi University fell in Friday's semifinal match at Merrimack, 4-1.
Adelphi (10-4), the third seeds in this year's championship, could not recover from losing the doubles point as second-seeded Merrimack (11-5) won three of the four completed singles matches to secure a spot in the league finals.
Senior
Samantha Perri was responsible for the Brown and Gold's lone victory in the match, as she defeated Merrimack's Mana Seifaei at No.1 singles, 6-1, 6-2.
An automatic qualifier in the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three years due to its league win, Adelphi will now hope to be an at-large selection to the field when it returns to the courts for the spring season.
Doubles
1. Mana Seifaei/Rosemary Campanella (MER) vs.
Samantha Perri/
Nicole Kielan (ADE) 5-4, unfinished
2. Kristina Calistro/Cassie Restrepo (MER) def.
Nicole Stay/
Karen Serina (ADE) 6-2
3. Lauren Persson/Mia Briggs (MER) def. No player/No player (ADE), by default
Singles
1.
Samantha Perri (ADE) def. Mana Seifaei (MER) 6-1, 6-2
2.
Nicole Kielan (ADE) vs. Lauren Persson (MER), unfinished
3. Cassie Restrepo (MER) def.
Karen Serina (ADE) 6-3, 6-0
4.
Nicole Stay (ADE) vs. Kristina Calistro (MER), unfinished
5. Rosemary Campanella (MER) def.
Ashley Mannetta (ADE) 6-0, 6-0
6. Hope Salts (MER) def. No player (ADE), by default
About Adelphi Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009, and in the past nine seasons, has collected 27 regular season conference titles, 29 tournament championships, 41 individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.
For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.
