The Stony Brook women’s tennis team beat Albany to win a fourth consecutive conference championship on April 26. The Seawolves finished with a 15-1 record.Their lone loss came on the road at Harvard.
The team knocked off Binghamton and Albany with two 4-0 whitewashes in the America East Championship to clinch a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
They will head to the northern California Bay Area to take on Stanford (15-5) on May 8. The winner of the matchup will battle the winner of Pepperdine/Auburn in the second round.
Win or lose, the team’s coach, Gary Glassman, acknowledges how good the season was.
“What we’ve accomplished thus far is a success,” said Glassman. “Even if we don’t win, it doesn’t diminish what we’ve accomplished. I thought we’d have a good year, and I liked the team’s dynamic.”
Senior Polina Movchan was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as the owner of a 10-1 record in dual singles matches. She attributes the team’s success to Glassman and his recruitment skills.
“Our coach did a good job recruiting talented players,” said Movchan. “Our team is basically a perfect blend of top American and European players. All the girls are talented and so we push each other every day in practice, and that is how we get better. We don’t have any weak links.”
In doubles, junior Louise Badoche and sophomore Nadia Smergut have a 9-3 record in No. 1 doubles and are 15-7 in the 2014-15 season.
The Seawolves have worked for what they’ve done so far, both athletically and academically.
“The most important reason for our success is discipline,” said Movchan. “That ranges from having a fitness session at five in the morning to reporting our grades to the academic advisor and having study hall hours to make sure that we succeed both on the court and in the classroom.”
The women’s tennis team will look to keep its amazing run alive by showcasing its effort, dedication and support for one another in Palo Alto, California.
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