READING, Pa. – Women's tennis historic season continues as the Lions swept Messiah this afternoon 5-0 to win the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) women's tennis Commonwealth Championship. Albright earned an automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA Championships by winning the MAC Commonwealth.
Alex Pancu was named 2024 MAC Commonwealth women's tennis Championship MVP.
Fans can order their official championship gear and have it shipped directly to their homes. Available merchandise includes adult and youth t-shirts (short and long sleeve) and sweatshirts.
Click here to order your Championship gear today.
The 2024 NCAA women's tennis selection show is set for 12 p.m. EST on Monday, May 6. The Lions will then learn where they are headed for the first round of the NCAA Championships. The first round will be held on May 10 at a neutral site.
The NCAA Championships consist of 49 teams playing in a single elimination bracket. For more information on the NCAA Championships and where to watch the selection show,
click here.
Albright is headed to the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship for the first time in school history. Today, Albright extended their overall win streak to 11 matches beating Messiah 5-0 for the MAC Commonwealth crown. Albright did not lose a single MAC Commonwealth match all season, including the playoffs going 8-0.
On Tuesday of this week, Albright beat Alvernia 5-2 to advance to today's MAC Commonwealth Championship.
The MAC Commonwealth Championship is the first for the Lions in program history. Prior to the Lions run in this years Championships, Albright last qualified for postseason play in 2014.
Alex Pancu is the best player in the MAC Commonwealth and was awarded MVP of the Commonwealth Championships after today's match. Pancu is the conferences reigning two-time Commonwealth Player of the Year, and is well on her way to making it three in a row.
Head men's and women's tennis coach
Miranda Brown was hired in January of 2021 and has spearheaded the women's tennis historic season. Coach Brown has led the Lions to 18 wins this season to go along with a perfect MAC Commonwealth record at 8-0. For Brown, today's conference championship win is the first in her career as a head coach.
Today's match was played in two different locations. The doubles matches were played at the Albright Tennis Courts and the singles matches were forced indoors because of rain. The YMCA in Sinking Spring, Pa. hosted the singles matches.
Albright wasted no time getting out to an early 1-0 lead.
Alex Pancu and
Valeria Sanchez were fantastic in #1 singles play winning the match with ease. The match lasted about 20 minutes and saw Pancu and Sanchez give Albright a 1-0 lead with an 8-2 win.
#3 doubles were the second doubles match to finish and again, went in favor of the Lions. After trading points early with Messiah, the duo of
Elicia Aponte and
Alizabeth Zarnofsky earned a late break in the match to propel them to victory. Albright never wavered in the match staying true to their game ultimately taking the match 8-6.
The #2 doubles match was back and forth throughout.
Michelle Timothy and
Valeria Sanchez were down early but were not going to be denied in the end. Albright was down 7-4 in the match and roared all the way back to tie the match at 7-7. The tiebreak featured more back and forth action with neither side able to separate themselves. The Lions duo proved to be stronger in the end winning 8-7 (11-9) to take a commanding 3-0 lead on the team scoreboard.
Pancu had her game working all afternoon. The change of scenery from doubles to singles matches had no negative effect on Pancu. Playing in #1 singles as Pancu has all year long, the junior Lion turned in another dominating effort. Pancu only dropped one game to the opposition taking the match 6-1, 6-0. Pamcu went a perfect 2-0 in singles play during the MAC Commonwealth playoffs.
With Albright leading 4-0 in the match, Timothy knew exactly what she needed to do to give the Lions the conference title. Timothy looked cool and collected as ever taking the first set of the match 6-4. In set number two, Timothy turned up the heat on Messiah and was not going to be denied. The sophomore Lion had every part of her game working and went on to win the second set 6-0 to close out the Falcons.
Up Next:
The women's tennis team will get together to watch Monday's NCAA selection show to find out their next opponent. Stay tuned in with the women's tennis team right here on albrightathletics.com
