Women's Tennis Returns Home for Two Matches

Saturday, February 26

South Williamsport, Pa.

2 p.m.

Bucknell University

Saint Francis

Photo by: Roberto Bellini

2/22/2022 12:15:00 PM | Women's Tennis

The Bison host fellow PA programs Saint Francis and IUP

Saint Francis (5-5, 0-0 NEC) vs. Bucknell (6-1, 0-0 PL)
When: Saturday, Feb. 26 – 2 p.m.
Where: Central PA Tennis Center – South Williamsport, Pa.

IUP (3-2, 0-0 PSAC) vs. Bucknell (6-1, 0-0 PL)
When: Sunday, Feb. 27 – 2 p.m.
Where: Central PA Tennis Center – South Williamsport, Pa.

Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bison are currently 6-1 (0-0 PL) following their victories over 2021 NEC runner-up Bryant (4-3) on Feb. 19 and defending MAAC champion Siena (5-2) on Feb. 20.
• Bucknell went 5-5 (2-3 PL) in the spring of 2021, most notably scoring a 4-2 victory over rival Lehigh in the Patriot League Tournament quarterfinals.
• The Bison posted a 6-3 (0-0 PL) record during their 2019-20 season that was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They won five of their final six matches that season, with two coming by 7-0 margins.
• Bucknell is captained by senior Daniela Bellini, a two-time All-Patriot League selection.
• The Bison lost three student-athletes to graduation following the 2021 spring season, including two-time All-Patriot League performer Cayla Koch.
• Bucknell welcomed three newcomers ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, including one international student-athlete.
• Head coach Tammy Cecchini is in her third season at the helm of the program.
• Cecchini was previously the head coach at Valparaiso from 2015 to 2018; she spent the 2014-15 season with Valpo as an assistant coach.

Category Leaders
• Overall Singles Wins: Whitney King (14)
• Dual Match Singles Wins: Whitney King and Anna Lajos (6)
• PL Dual Match Singles Wins: N/A
• Overall Doubles Wins: Daniela Bellini/Whitney King (14)
• Dual Match Doubles Wins: Daniela Bellini/Whitney King (6)
• PL Dual Match Doubles Wins: N/A

Saint Francis at a Glance
• The Red Flash is currently 5-5 (0-0 NEC) following their losses Duquesne (2-5), Youngstown State (1-6) and Bowling Green (2-5) last week.
• During its abbreviated 2020-21 season, Saint Francis went 6-11 (2-3 NEC). The Red Flash's NEC Tournament match against Mount St. Mary's was canceled.
• Saint Francis returned its lone All-NEC honoree from a year ago: Dominique Yeo. Yeo made the Singles Second Team as well as the Rookie Team.
• Bucknell leads the all-time series with Saint Francis, 6-3, and is riding a three-match winning streak.
• The Bison opened their abbreviated 2020-21 campaign with a 5-2 victory over the Red Flash at the Central PA Tennis Center. At first singles, Daniela Bellini scored a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Yeo.

IUP at a Glance
• The Crimson Hawks are currently 3-2 (0-0 PSAC) following their 5-2 loss to Carnegie Mellon on Feb. 19
• During its truncated 2020-21 season, IUP posted a 15-4 (6-0 NEC) record. The Crimson Hawks were awarded the PSAC's bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament due to COVID-19 protocols.
• IUP scored NCAA Tournament victories over Slippery Rock (4-2) and Charleston (4-2). The Crimson Hawks, who advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in program history, ultimately fell to third-seeded Central Oklahoma, 4-0.
• IUP was consistently ranked in the NCAA Division II top-25 rankings a year ago.
• The Crimson Hawks returned all four of its 2021 All-PSAC West honorees: Katy Graydon (First Team Singles), Karolin Kirchtag (First Team Singles & Doubles), Idoia Huerta (Second Team Singles, First Team Doubles) and Lydia Vlachou (First Team Doubles).
• Bucknell last faced off against IUP in in 2018, scoring a 5-2 victory.

A Look Ahead
• The Bison host St. Bonaventure (Mar. 5 at 2 p.m.) before traveling to Penn State (Mar. 6 at 5 p.m.).
• Head coach Tammy Cecchini is a Penn State alumna. As a Nittany Lion, she played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for three seasons. The two-year team captain was also named the 1991 Atlantic 10 Freshman of the Year.