Hounds Blank Cairn in First Round for First-Ever NCAA Tournament Victory

Sophomore Mary Angle returns at shot during the opening round of the 2019 NCAA Division III Tournament versus Cairn University at Middlebury's Nelson Recreation Center.

Posted: May 10, 2019

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. --- The Moravian College women's tennis team earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament victory with a 5-0 win over Cairn University Friday in the opening round of the 2019 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament with the first three rounds being hosted by Middlebury (Vt.) College.

The Greyhounds hit the 20-win plateau for the first time in program history with the victory as they improve to 20-1 on the year with their 15th consecutive triumph. The Blue and Grey are in their third trip to the NCAA Tournament and won for the first time in NCAA action.

"Today was a great day for our program," stated first-year Director of Tennis Aaron Wilf. "To get the first-ever win in the NCAA Tournament is something that's huge for us and something we can build on moving forward. I'm so proud of this group. They deserve all these great accolades, and we look forward to moving on in the tournament."

The match Friday was played indoors at Middlebury's Nelson Recreation Center due to the weather and took just over an hour to complete with postseason matches ending as soon as one team reaches the five points needed for a victory.

Sophomores Brooke Adams and Kristen Cassidy opened the contest with an 8-0 triumph at third doubles while junior Lauren Steinert and sophomore Mary Angle finished moments later at second doubles with the same 8-0 score. The tandem of junior Eiman Nazif and sophomore Emma Angle completed the doubles sweep with an 8-2 victory at first doubles.

The Hounds headed to singles action needing just two points with the top four singles matches hitting the four courts in the Nelson Recreation Center. Nazif was the first to finish with a 6-0, 6-0 victory at second singles, and just moments later, Steinert earned her 20th singles win of the year to tie the single season school record with a 6-0, 6-0 triumph at fourth singles. Emma Angle had a 6-1, 1-0 lead at first singles when her contest ended while Mary Angle was up 6-0, 3-2 at third singles. Adams at fifth singles and Cassidy at sixth singles never began their matches.

Moravian is slated to return to action in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Division III Tournament on Saturday, May 11 when the Greyhounds play host and No. 3 Middlebury at 3:00 p.m.