CHARLOTTE, NC- The Chowan University women's tennis team's hopes of repeating as CIAA Champions were dashed on Saturday evening in a narrow 5-3 loss to Shaw University. With the win, the Lady Bears secured an appearance to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region tournament, earning an automatic bid.
Shaw stands 18-2 after the win while Chowan posts a 19-7 record on the year with the setback.
In doubles action, the Lady Bears took two out of three matches against the Hawks to gain an early lead. Ana Ruzir and Jessica Medina topped
Natalya Kamenshchikova and
Victoria Smolchenkova 8-3 in the number one position while
Polina Novachuk and
Jessica De Backre were clipped 8-5 by Gislaine Farias and Marilyne Kamegne in the number two spot.
Natalia Andrade and
Jennifer Humphrey were credited with a win by forfeit in number the number three spot.
Holding a 2-1 advantage heading into singles action, Andrade picked up a win over Halli Cooke in the number five position to knot the score 2-2. Medina clipped Novachuk 7-5, 6-2 at the number two position while Farias toppled Smolchenkova 6-3, 6-1. Chowan's
Straffai Cleveland picked up a win by forfeit in the number six singles slot but it was not enough to overcome the deficit as Kamegne dropped De Backre 6-2, 6-2 to secure the championship win for Shaw.
Over the course of the 2014-15 season, the Hawks clinched their second CIAA Northern Division title in as many years, highlighted by an unblemished 13-0 record in league play. Kamenshchikova headlined the 2015 All-CIAA Team as the Player of the Year, earning the honor in back-to-back seasons. She is the only player in Chowan's history as part of the CIAA to accomplish the feat.
