Women's Tennis Advances to Patriot League Semifinals with 4-0 Win Over Loyola (Md.)

Friday, April 26

Williamsport, Pa. / Central PA Tennis Center

11 a.m.

Bucknell University

Loyola (Md.)

Photo by: Marc Hagemeier

Women's Tennis Advances to Patriot League Semifinals with 4-0 Win Over Loyola (Md.)

4/26/2019 4:28:00 PM | Women's Tennis

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Bucknell women's tennis posted a 4-0 shutout over Loyola (Md.) in the quarterfinal round of the Patriot League Tournament on Friday at the Central PA Tennis Center.

Fourth-seeded Bucknell improved to 14-6 overall, while fifth-seeded Loyola dropped to 14-8. The Bison advanced to the semifinal round, where they will play top-seeded Boston University on Saturday at 10 a.m. The semifinal matches will also be played indoors at the Central PA Tennis Center.

"Once we knew who our quarterfinal opponent was going to be, we spent all of our time working on our game plan for each match," Bucknell head coach Rebecca Helt said. "I thought everyone executed perfectly today. Loyola is a tough team to play and they always come out fighting. We stuck to our game plan and picked up four straight points in a fairly routine fashion."

Bucknell won the doubles point for the 17^th time in 20 matches this season. Cayla Koch and Paige Leavy improved to 14-4 with a 6-2 win on court one, while Daniela Bellini and Sofia Ayuso upped their record to 12-5 with a 6-4 victory on court two.

Bellini, a freshman, kept her winning streak in singles going, upping it to seven straight with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Kateri Martin on court one. The Loyola sophomore was a First Team All-Patriot League selection last season. It was the fourth win over an All-Patriot League player this season for Bellini, who improved to 6-0 against conference opponents.

Koch also extended her winning streak, moving it to four straight with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Abigail Thornton on court two. The Bison sophomore improved to 15-5 overall and 5-1 against league opponents.

Ayuso started slow in her match against Lin Robertson on court four, but stormed back for a relatively easy win. She fell behind 3-0 in the first set but didn't give up another game for a 6-3 victory. She followed that with a 6-4 win in set two.

Bucknell will play in the semifinal round for the first time since 2016.

Boston University advanced to the semifinal round with a 4-0 win over eighth-seeded Lafayette. The Terriers, who went 6-0 in the Patriot League during the regular season, improved to 13-8 overall.

Bucknell 4, Loyola (Md.) 0
4/26/2019 at Williamsport, Pa. (Central PA Tennis Center)

Singles competition

1. Daniela Bellini (BUCKNELL) def. Kateri Martin (LOYOLA) 6-4, 6-3

2. Cayla Koch (BUCKNELL) def. Abigail Thornton (LOYOLA) 6-0, 6-2

3. Paige Leavy (BUCKNELL) vs. Abby Decker (LOYOLA) 6-4, 4-6, 0-0, unfinished

4. Sofia Ayuso (BUCKNELL) def. Lin Robertson (LOYOLA) 6-3, 6-4

5. Mishi Papich (BUCKNELL) vs. Sandra Aguirre (LOYOLA) 7-6 (7-4), 2-3, unfinished

6. Jill Auteri (BUCKNELL) vs. Alexandria Agee (LOYOLA) 6-3, 4-5, unfinished

Doubles competition

1. Cayla Koch/Paige Leavy (BUCKNELL) def. Kateri Martin/Abigail Thornton (LOYOLA) 6-2

2. Daniela Bellini/Sofia Ayuso (BUCKNELL) def. Lin Robertson/Alexandria Agee (LOYOLA) 6-4

3. Abby Decker/Sandra Aguirre (LOYOLA) def. Mishi Papich/Jill Auteri (BUCKNELL) 6-2

Match Notes