YSU Claims Third Straight Women's Tennis Title In Thrilling Fashion

Youngstown State vs. Wright State Box Score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – For the third straight year, the Youngstown State Penguins are the champions of Horizon League in women’s tennis. In a thrilling contest that saw four three-set matches, Youngstown State overcame a game Wright State squad, 4-2, to clinch a berth in the NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament.

Youngstown State, the No. 3 seed in the tournament, will find out its NCAA Tournament destination on Tuesday, May 3, at 5 p.m. ET on NCAA.com.

From the jump, the match appeared destined to come down to the final points, as the doubles point came down to a tie-breaker. Wins by Noelly Nsimba and Annina Brendel at No. 1 for YSU and Karoline Haller and Linsey Verstrepen at No. 2 for WSU sent both rosters viewing the No. 3 match between YSU’s Julianna Heino and Ana Stroe versus Elaine Cloern and Megan Brdicka.

It was Cloern and Brdicka who closed with three straight points in the tie-break to claim a 7-6(4) victory and send the Raiders into singles play ahead, 1-0.

Nsimba evened the match quickly, making swift work of her opponent at No. 3, 6-4, 6-1.

On the north bank of courts, Wright State responded in emphatic fashion, as Aby Madrigal lost her first set at love before rallying for a 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 6 that put the Raiders back in front, 2-1.

Nehel Sahni would tie the match once more for Youngstown State, finishing a 6-4, 7-6(4) match at No. 5.

Meanwhile, the final three matches all went into the third set, ensuring a thrilling finish. Karoline Haller rallied from a 5-1 deficit in the second set at No. 1 singles to push Dominka Lackova into a third set.

Lackova, the Horizon League Player of the Year, responded, breaking Haller to clinch the third set and critical third point for the Penguins, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.

One court over, Brendel and Verstrepen were engaged in a third-set deadlock of their own. After a Verstrepen break tied the set at 4, Brendel broke back to go up 5-4 and set up a chance to serve for the championship. She did just that, clinching the championship with a 6-7 (8-10), 6-3, 6-4 triumph, sending the Penguins into a celebration on court No. 2.

For Youngstown State, the championship marked the program’s third straight title and third in the last four years. All three titles have come under head coach Mickael Sopel.