ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- The No. 12 Vulcans extended their winning streak to 13 matches on Wednesday by posting a 5-0 victory against No. 20 Northeastern State (Okla.) in the Round of 16 of the NCAA tournament.
With the win, California (Pa.) improves to 15-2 overall and advances to the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament for the sixth consecutive year and seventh time in eight years. The Vulcans will face No. 6 Saint Leo of the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) on Thursday. Meanwhile, Northeastern State finishes the year at 23-6 overall after advancing to the Round of 16 for a consecutive season.
The Vulcans jumped out to a 3-0 lead after sweeping doubles play for the eighth consecutive match. Junior Jesse Burrell and freshman Kiefer Shaw opened the match with an 8-4 victory at third doubles against Houda Bellamine and Lucia Cerchlanova.The No. 12 tandem of senior Lucie Sipkova and junior Lucie Rey earned their team-leading 23rd doubles victory of the season by posting an 8-2 win at the first slot against Martina Bruzikova and Valeriia Efimenko. At the second position, junior Ramona Czakon and freshman Mariela Sarinana closed the session and extended their winning streak to 13 matches by collecting an 8-6 victory against Barbora Jirickova and Kristina Savchenkov.
In singles play, Sarinana posted her 13th consecutive victory by earning a 6-1, 6-2 win at the sixth position against Cerchlanova. Shaw then clinched the match victory with a 6-3, 6-2 win against Efimenko at fourth singles.
