GRANTHAM, Pa. – Women's tennis are champions of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth for the third consecutive season beating Messiah 4-1 on Saturday afternoon. The win clinches a spot in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Daniela Diez was named tournament MVP.
Women's tennis is on a historic run and continued their strong play this afternoon. The Lions became the first team to win three straight women's MAC Commonwealth titles since the 2012-2014 seasons when Elizabethtown achieved the same feat.
In Albright athletics history, women's tennis ('24-26) matches football ('75-77), men's swimming ('03-05, '11-15, '17-19) and women's swimming ('00-04, '05-08) as the four programs to win three or more straight conference championships.
Albright began their dominant run in the spring of 2023. Over that stretch Albright has been nearly flawless in the MAC Commonwealth playoffs. The only court the Lions have dropped in their last six conference playoff matches came this afternoon.
Earlier this season, Messiah beat Albright 5-2 in the regular season. Today, the opponent and location for Albright were as the previous matchup but the result was different. A 4-1 victory today over the Falcons for the Lions was their fifth win over Messiah in their last six matches overall.
The team doubles point went to Albright giving the team the momentum needed heading into singles play.
Nadia Margaritov and
Elicia Aponte started the day with a convincing 6-2 win in number two doubles.
Alaina Smith and
Daniela Diez finished off their opponent winning 6-4 in number three doubles to secure the all important team doubles point.
Diez played hero this afternoon as her match came to be the deciding one. Diez won the first set 6-3 putting the Lions on the cusp of their third straight crown. Diez battled throughout the second set with the score eventually being in favor of Diez leading 6-5. The first-year Lion was able to steady her game and win the set to send Albright into a celebration.
Margaritov was dominant in #1 singles. In the regular season, Margaritov dropped her match to her opponent, but it was a much different story today. The junior Lion won in straight sets 6-4, 6-1 putting Albright up 3-1 at the time of her match's finish.
Allison Horick was her typical dominant self-playing in #4 singles. Horick, as she does seemingly every time she takes the court, handled her opponent with ease winning 6-3, 6-3 in straight sets. Horick's victory put Albright in front 2-0 at the time keeping all the momentum with the Lions.
Michelle Timothy,
Elicia Aponte and
Alaina Smith all won their third straight MAC Commonwealth title this afternoon. For Horick it marked her second straight and for Diez and Margaritov it marks their first.
Up Next:
Albright will learn their opponent and destination on Monday, May 4 at 12:00 p.m. for the first round of the 2026 women's tennis NCAA Championships. The selection show can be viewed by
clicking here.
