Royals Best Cardinals In Tennis Semifinals

SCRANTON, Pa.—Senior Gretchen Sullivan (Kenmore, N.Y./Kenmore West) and freshman Danielle Wylie (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) won two matches apiece to lead The University of Scranton to a 6-3 victory over Catholic University in the semifinals of the Landmark Conference tournament Tuesday afternoon at the Poly Hi Tennis Courts.

The Royals, now 9-6, will advance to Saturday’s championship match against top-seeded Moravian College, which held a 7-1 lead in the other semifinal match against Goucher College with one match still to be decided.

Scranton took a 2-1 lead after doubles play, as Sullivan and sophomore Deirdre Wylie (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) downed Corinne Alcorn (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) and Caitlin Dunn (Hanover, Pa./Delone), 8-4, at two and Wylie and fellow freshman Kelly Costello (Branchville, N.J./High Point Regional) topped Julie Cotrone (Hanover, Mass./Hanover) and Mary Wargo (Manchester, N.H./Trinity), 8-1, at three.

In singles, Sullivan won her fifth match of the season and the 31st of her career by downing Rachel Tenuta (Fayetteville, N.C./Fayetteville), 6-2, 6-2, at one, while Wylie improved to 8-5 on the year with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Wargo at five. Scranton’s other wins were recorded by senior Danielle Red (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and sophomore Caroline Curtin (Shirley, N.Y./William Floyd). Red extended her winning streak to six and improved her team-leading record to 11-3 by downing Alcorn, 6-0, 6-0, at three and Curtin evened her record at 7-7 with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Cotrone at six.

Catholic, now 5-9, received a win at the number one doubles by Emily McGlynn (Tallahassee, Fla./Leon) and Tenuta over Sarah Costello (Branchville, N.J./High Point Regional) and Red, 8-0. In singles, McGlynn defeated Deirdre Wylie, 6-2, 6-4, at two and Dunn topped Sarah Costello, 6-0, 6-0, at four.

Earlier this season, Moravian handed the Royals a 7-2 defeat at Poly Hi on April 9. The Greyhounds also hold a 14-5 lead since the all-time series began in 1991. The two teams also battled it out for the 2003 Middle Atlantic Conference team championship, with Moravian winning 5-4 on October 11 at Poly Hi.