MADISON, N.J. ? Junior Diane Washer (Ogdensburg, N.J./Wallkill Valley Regional) scored a D Flight win as the Monmouth University women's tennis team competed in the NJAIAW Tournament this past Saturday and Sunday at Drew University in New Jersey. Every player on the Hawks' team competed as eight out of nine won in the first round including five semi-finalists ? a tournament-high for any team.
Washer took first in the D Flight division of the tournament receiving wins over Drew's Olderman, 8-1 and Rampo's Albright, 8-4 in the first two rounds. Washer defeated teammate Kristen Hoffmann (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) in the semifinals, 6-4, 6-1, and beat Rampo's Lapsley 6-4, 6-0 in the finals to take the title.
In other D Flight action, Hoffmann took the first round win and defeated fellow Hawk, Megan Rice (Millstone Township, N.J./Allentown), 8-0 before losing to Washer in the semifinals. Rice defeated Drew's Cicardo, 8-4 and Rampo's Gerhard, 8-4 in the first two rounds before dropping a straight set to Hoffmann in the semifinals.
Competing at A Flight, with the #3 seeding, senior Sarah Ragan (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Township) soundly defeated William Paterson's Varacallo, 8-0 and outlasted St. Peter's Chen, 8-6 before falling to the #1 seed, Princeton's Ling, 6-3, 6-0.
Sophomore Katie Tierney (Berkeley Heights, N.J./Governor Livingston) and freshman Jessica Slinger (Tinton Falls, N.J./Monmouth Regional) seeded #3 and #4 in the tournament both reached the semifinals in the B Flight before falling to the #1 and #2 seeds of the tournament.
Bouncing back from a first round loss, Kelly Friedrich (Brick, N.J./Brick Memorial) defeated Drew's Jacobs, 8-1 to reach the consolation finals. Friedrich fought but couldn't hold on as she lost to the tournament's #2 seed, Princeton's Fan, 8-9 (7) in the finals.
The Hawks made the best of their tournament opportunities with each player going at least two rounds and with two Hawks reaching the finals of their tournament flights.
Women's tennis returns to action this Saturday, October 18th as they travel to Providence for a 10:30 a.m. non-conference match.
