Cioffi, Melch Secure Finals Berths on Day 2 of Bucknell Tournament

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Maria Cioffi and Madeline Melch won semifinal matches on Saturday, and Emily Bush and the doubles tandem of Cioffi and Stephanie Pino are also still alive in main draws as the Bison women's tennis team wrapped up a successful Day 2 of the Bucknell Tournament.

In the A Singles semifinals, Cioffi won a third-set super tiebreaker 10-7 after splitting the first two sets with teammate Lisa Jouravleva. Cioffi will next face Costanza Mecchi of Concordia in the championship match on Sunday. Mecchi has been dominant so far, conceding only five games in her three victories.

The freshman Melch is looking to win the B Singles title in her collegiate debut. On Saturday Melch breezed past Loyola's Amanda Lanciano 6-2, 6-1 in the quarterfinals, and then she handled Raquel Gonzalez of IUP 6-1, 6-3 in the semis. In Sunday's flight final, Melch will take on IUP's Rachel Wood, who knocked out Bucknell's Alyssa McAndrew 6-4, 6-2 in the other B Singles semifinal. Earlier in the day, McAndrew beat Kristie Woodbury of Colgate 6-3, 1-6, (10-2) in the quarters.

At C Singles, Bush topped Allana McFail of IUP 2-6, 6-2 (10-6) in the quarterfinals. Up next for Bush is a semifinal date with Katrine Gransoe of IUP. The winner gets Nicole Eberle of Loyola in the final.

Cioffi and Pino edged Emily Hughes and Olivia Ott of Loyola 8-6 in the doubles quarterfinals, and they will next face Tanya Timko and Luise Von Agris of IUP in the semis.

Play continues on Sunday morning at the Gerhard Fieldhouse Tennis Courts.