KEY BISCAYNE, Fla.—The 2016 season marks the third straight year that the Fire women's tennis team is making a postseason appearance. On Thursday, Southeastern will take on two-time defending Sun Conference regular season champion SCAD-Savannah in the semifinal round of the Sun Conference Tournament.
Following a 5-1 start to the season, and a ranking as high as 19
th in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25, the Fire struggled at the end of the year, finishing with a 7-8 record and fourth place finish in The Sun Conference.
The two teams last met on February 12
th in the regular season opener with the Bees, currently fourth in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, won an 8-1 match. Senior
Alexis Quinn came away with the only point that day, winning 6-4, 6-4 over Paige Murdock at #2 Singles.
Quinn moves up to #1 singles on Thursday, taking on sophomore sensation Camille Gbaguidi, currently ranked second in the ITA NAIA Singles national rankings. Gbaguidi is 14-0 on the season. Quinn comes in with a 10-5 mark, and is ranked 38
th in the nation.
Murdock is 10-4 on the year, and is ranked 44
th in the nation. She'll take on SEU junior
Kelsi Black at #2 singles, who has gone 9-6 this season.
In doubles play, SCAD's three teams have combined to go 30-5 this year. The matchup to watch will be at #1 doubles with Quinn and
Emily Acierno ranked 21
st in the nation with a 7-4 record, facing Gbaguidi and Murdock, ranked fifth in the nation at 15-0.
Play will begin Thursday at 9 a.m. at Crandon Park. The winner will advance to Friday morning's championship match against the winner of the St. Thomas vs. Keiser semifinal.
For more information, visit the
Conference Tournament page.
Tennis Match Information
Southeastern University vs SCAD
Apr 21, 2016 at Key Biscayne, Fla.
(Crandon Park)
Singles competition
Southeastern University (SEU) vs. SCAD (SCAD)
1.
Alexis Quinn (10-5) vs. Camille Gbaguidi (14-0)
Nation rank #38; Region rank #14 Nation rank #2; Region rank #2
2.
Kelsi Black (9-6) vs. Paige Murdock (10-4)
Nation rank #44; Region rank #15
3.
Emily Acierno (2-9) vs. Karina Rovira (10-3)
4.
Madeline Wills (5-10) vs. Julie Albuquerque (14-1)
5.
Melanie Dodd (6-9) vs. Angie Dahnous (5-4)
6.
Morgan Logue (5-9) vs. Daniella Arcile (9-2)
Doubles competition
Southeastern University (SEU) vs. SCAD (SCAD)
1.
Alexis Quinn/
Emily Acierno (7-4) vs. Camille Gbaguidi/Paige Murdock (15-0)
Nation rank #21; Region rank #7 Nation rank #5; Region rank #2
2.
Kelsi Black/
Madeline Wills (5-6) vs. Julie Albuquerque/Karina Rovira (11-4)
3.
Melanie Dodd/
Morgan Logue (5-5) vs. Daniella Arcile/Angie Dahnous (4-1)
Match Notes:
Southeastern University 7-8
SCAD 14-1; National ranking #4
