Juniata to Face No. 1 Seeded Royals In Landmark Conference Semis

By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
Photo: J.D. Cavrich Photography 

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – For the second year in a row the Juniata College women's tennis team has qualified as the No. 4 seed in the Landmark Conference postseason tournament. The Eagles will travel to Scranton, Pa. to face the No. 1 seeded Royals of The University of Scranton.

Juniata finished the regular season with an 11-5 overall record and a 3-3 Landmark record. The final playoff spot came down to the wire for the Eagles. The team went into the final match of the league season against Goucher College knowing the victor would earn the final place in the postseason. The Eagles came back from a 2-1 deficit after doubles to earn the 5-4 win knocking off the Gophers who had eliminated Juniata from the 2013 Landmark semifinals.

The Royals ran through the regular league season with a perfect 6-0 record to secure the No. 1 seed for the first time in program history. The University of Scranton has won the last two Landmark championships both times entering the tournament as the No. 3 seed.

In the previous meeting this season the Royals came away with the 7-2 win in Scranton. That day junior Heather Waring (San Antonio, Texas / John Jay) earned the 6-2, 7-6 (3) win at No. 1 singles and paired up with senior Megan Phillips (Jefferson Hills, Pa. / Thomas Jefferson) for the victory at No. 1 doubles. The top pairing for the season is 10-6 on the year and finished 5-1 in league matches.

Sophomore Tori Gray (York, Pa. / Central York) is riding a six match win streak in singles, finishing the conference season with a 4-2 record, and is 9-1 when playing at the No. 5 position. She and classmate Mitsuki Koh (Cupertino, Calif. / Monta Vista) 10-6 in dual match play together and have won six of their last 10 doubles matches. Koh boasts a 14-7 overall record in singles and 4-2 conference record winning the majority of her matches at the No. 4 position.

Sophomore Jacklyn Renninger (Manheim, Pa. / Manheim Central) has won her last four consecutive singles matches and is 7-1 when playing at the No. 6 position. First year Rachel Yurchisin (Cleveland, OH / Padua Franciscan) has made a splash with a 13-6 overall singles record and finished her first Landmark season with a 3-3 record. After spending the majority of the year playing along side Renninger, Yurchisin has paired up with junior Cara Stough (Friendsville, Md. / Northern Garrett) in five doubles matches and the pair is 2-1 when playing at the No. 3 position.

The semifinal match will take place Thursday, April 24, at 3:30 p.m.

Follow Your Eagles! Stay up-to-date on your Juniata College Eagles by following us on twitter (@JuniataEagles) and on Facebook (Juniata Eagles).