Junior Kendra Daigler |
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – After finishing the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season with a perfect 7-0 record, the 72nd-ranked Niagara University women’s tennis team earned the top seed in the 22nd annual MAAC Tennis Tournament Friday through Sunday. The Purple Eagles begin play in the opening round of the tournament against eighth-seeded Saint Peter’s at 10 a.m. Friday at the USTA Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
If Niagara advances to the semifinals, it will play the winner of fourth-seeded Loyola and fifth-seed Siena at 11 a.m. Saturday. The championship match is scheduled for 11 a.m. Sunday.
The Purple Eagles went undefeated in league play for the second-straight year. Last season Niagara was 9-0 in the MAAC. Canisius and Iona dropped their programs last year.
The tournament is being held at the USTA Tennis Center, which includes 18 courts. The MAAC Championship will be held on six courts, excluding the stadium courts. Admission to the tournament is free and seating capacity is over 5,000.
Niagara is the defending MAAC Champions and has finished in the top 5 in three of the last five tournaments. Last year Niagara defeated Saint Peter’s in the first round (7-0), Marist in the semifinals (4-0) and Siena in the championship (5-2) before advancing to the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament.
Saint Peter’s enters the tournament with a 0-7 MAAC record. The Purple Eagles and the Peahens met during the regular season on Feb. 29. Niagara shut out Saint Peter’s 7-0 two record its ninth-straight overall victory and four consecutive league win.
Friday, April 23
No. 1 Niagara (7-0) vs. No. 8 Saint Peter’s (0-7), 11 a.m.
No. 4 Loyola (4-3) vs. No. 5 Siena (3-4), 12:30 p.m.
No. 3 Fairfield (5-2) vs. No. 6 Manhattan (2-5), 12:30 p.m.
No. 2 Marist (6-1) vs. No. 7 Rider (1-6), 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 24
Semifinal Rounds, 11 a.m.
Consolation Rounds, 1:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 25
Championship, 11 a.m.
5th/6th Place, 11:30 a.m.
7th/8th Place, 1:30 p.m
