It’s hard to top eight consecutive America East Championships. Unless, of course, you win nine.
That is exactly what the Boston University women’s tennis team did this weekend, as they topped Binghamton University on Sunday in the America East Tournament at the Connecticut Tennis Center in New Haven.
BU used a complete team effort to win the championship as all six Terriers landed a spot on the all-conference team, including junior Lindsey Dynof, who was named the Most Outstanding Performer. The win was not only the Terriers’ ninth straight America East championship, it was also their 13th in the 14-year history of the conference championship.
In order to advance to the finals, the top-seeded Terriers defeated No. 4 Stony Brook University 4-0 on Saturday. BU needed only four singles matches to overcome the Seawolves. Dynof led the way, coming back to win her No. 1 singles match over Anne Catherine Valle (1-6, 6-1, 6-2).
The rest of the Terriers followed suit, as junior Elena deMendoza won at second singles (6-2, 7-5), freshman Laura Ahmes held at third singles (6-3, 6-1) and senior Alana Marcu romped at fourth singles (6-1, 6-1). The remaining two singles matches and the all the doubles matches were left uncontested as the match had already been decided.
The championship match against No. 2 Binghamton proved to be more of a challenge for the Terriers, but BU was ready for the increased competition. The Bearcats pounced on the Terriers early, winning all three doubles matches to claim the doubles point. It would be the only point the Terriers would give up.
The Terriers went on to claim four consecutive singles matches to clinch the victory. DeMendoza again won at second singles (6-4, 4-6, 6-3) and Marcu repeated at fourth singles (4-6, 6-1, 6-1). Junior No. 5 Elisa Glas took her match after a slow start (1-6, 6-4, 6-1) and freshman No. 6 Aimee Charest took home a straight set victory (6-1, 6-1). Dynof and Ahmes did not need to finish their matches, as the Terriers had already claimed the championship.
With her selection to the all conference team, Marcu, the team’s lone senior, has been selected to the team all four of her years as a Terrier. It is the third selection for Dynof, deMendoza and Glas.
With the win, the Terriers receive an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament on May 9-10.
The BU men’s tennis team was in New Haven also, but did not have the same success as its female counterpart.
On the opening day of play, the Terriers were matched up against No. 4 University of Hartford. Unfortunately, the Hawks proved too much and ended the Terriers’ season, 6-1. The lone BU point was scored by senior J.P. Debbink, who defeated Hartford’s Christoffer Hartmann at fifth singles in a long match, 7-6 (8-6), 0-6, 10-8.
The loss brings the Terriers’ season to a close after posting a 5-11 record.