ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- NYIT, ranked 11th nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), advanced to the program's first NCAA quarterfinal with a 5-0 victory against St. Mary's (Texas) on Wednesday morning at Sanlando Park.
Graduate student Madalina Florea clinched the match victory with a 6-0, 6-2 victory against Joanie Bryant at sixth singles.
The Bears improved to 25-5 on the season with the victory, while the Rattlers brought the year to a close with a 16-5 overall record.NYIT claimed a 3-0 lead after doubles play but it was not without a fight. Sara Burinato and Alexandra Borgenhoff were up 7-0 at second singles only to see Jamie Lee Denton and Felicity Delgado come back with three game points before the Bears won 8-3.
At second doubles, Gabriela Siembab and Claudia Sanchez Gonzales then rallied for an 8-2 victory. The final point was scored after Alessia Rossetti and Justyna Krol came back from a 3-2 deficit to claim a 5-3 lead to then win 8-6.
The Bears reached match point when Borgenhoff defeated Delgado 6-1, 6-0 at fourth singles. NYIT was up on both the second and sixth singles courts before Florea advanced the Bears.
