Seahawks seek second CAA women’s tennis crown

WILMINGTON, North Carolina (UNCWSports.com) – The UNCW women’s tennis team is looking for a repeat performance this weekend after nearly capturing the CAA Championship one year ago at Elon’s Jimmy Powell Tennis Center.

The Seahawks became the first No. 6 seed to reach the CAA finals last season and enter this weekend’s affair as the No. 7 seed. The event, featuring nine teams, runs April 19-22, with the CAA’s automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals on the line.

The women’s tournament opened on Thursday with #8 Towson defeating #9 Hofstra, 4-1. Quarterfinal action starts at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 20, followed by the semifinals on Saturday and the championship match on Sunday, April 22.

UNCW, 1-11 this spring, faces No. 2 James Madison on Friday at 1 p.m. The Dukes handed the Seahawks a 6-1 setback on March 31 at the UNCW courts, but several of the matches went down to the wire.

The Seahawks won their lone CAA title in 2014 when the Angie Sekely-led squad defeated Hofstra, James Madison and Charleston in succession for the title. Sekely was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer and Player-of-the-Year in the CAA.

In last year’s CAA tourney, UNCW edged No. 3 Charleston in the quarterfinals, 4-3, and knocked off No. 2 Elon in the semifinals, 4-2, before falling to top-seeded William & Mary in the championship match, 4-2.

Ranked #41 nationally by the ITA, three-time defending champion W&M (14-9), is the top seed in the women’s draw. The Tribe has captured 25 of the past 33 CAA championships and returns the majority of its lineup, including top-seeded Rosie Cheng and No. 2 Natalia Perry.

Thursday, April 19 – First Round (Jimmy Powell Tennis Center – Elon University)
10 a.m.
#8 Towson 4, #9 Hofstra 1

Friday, April 20 – Quarterfinals (Burlington Tennis Center)
9 a.m.
#1 William & Mary vs. #8 Towson
#4 Elon vs. #5 Drexel
1 p.m.
#2 James Madison vs. #7 UNCW
#3 Delaware vs. #6 Charleston

Saturday, April 21 – Semifinals (Jimmy Powell Tennis Center – Elon University)
2 p.m.
W&M/Towson winner vs. Elon/Drexel winner
JMU/UNCW winner vs. Delaware/Charleston winner

Sunday, April 22 – Championships (Jimmy Powell Tennis Center – Elon University)
2 p.m.
Championship