New Haven, Conn. – It was another successful regular season for the Albertus Magnus College women's tennis team in 2016 and the Falcons hope that success carries over into postseason play this week. Albertus Magnus finished the year with a 5-6 overall record and qualified for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament as the No. 5 seed thanks to posting a 2-4 mark in league matches.
Albertus Magnus will travel to face in-state rival and No. 4 seed St. Joseph on Wednesday, October 19, at 3:00 pm in the first round. The Falcons are marking their second straight appearance in the postseason event and third overall with their first trip coming in 2013.
Albertus Magnus is looking to avenge a 9-0 setback to the Bluejays last weekend. The contest was closer than the final score indicated as two of the doubles matches were close and four of the six singles tilts were decided in three sets.
The team enters the tournament coming off an 8-1 thumping of New Rochelle in non-conference play on Sunday. Versus the Blue Angels, senior Zaida Velazco (Dominican Republic) scored a 6-4, 6-1 straight-set win at No.1 singles in her final collegiate home match. Other contributors in the win were sophomores Izzy Sabino (Cheshire, Conn.) and Alicia Weaver (Bethel, Conn.) as each netted wins in both singles and doubles action.
In doubles play, Sabino had a team-high five wins competing at No. 2 with two different partners. Weaver picked up four wins and several other Falcons had three on the year. In league play, the freshman tandem of Nallely Magana (East Haven, Conn.) and Paige Williams (Orange County, Va.) were a perfect 2-0 at No. 3.
Sabino also led the team in singles wins with seven, competing at No. 3, while Magana, Williams and junior Kelsea Wildman (Hamden, Conn.) all had five singles wins apiece. Weaver had four wins, including one in conference play at No. 2 and Velazco had three wins at No. 1 during the regular season for AMC. Sabino's 7-3 mark in singles action was highlighted by a team-best three GNAC wins. Wildman's victories all came at No. 4, while Magana competed at No. 5 and Williams was a mainstay at No. 6.
The Falcons are in search of their first-ever postseason tournament win. AMC is also looking for revenge as the Bluejays ended their season last fall in the opening round of the GNAC Tournament. USJ scored an 8-1 triumph at home in that meeting.
For the latest information on the women's tennis team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.
