This past Sunday marked the end of an era for three Massachusetts tennis seniors. For Julia Comas, Chantal Swiszcz and Jocelyn Providence, their 7-0 win over Sacred Heart marked the last time they would take the court at UMass.
As the third-seeded Minutewomen (14-5, 5-1 Atlantic 10) ride their four-game winning-streak into the A-10 tournament, these seniors realize it’s their last chance to bring a tournament championship to UMass.
In the last four years, the senior class has amassed a 68 percent winning-percentage, with a 26-1 record at home. Now they carry that success to Charlottesville, Va., on Thursday to take on 14th-seeded Dayton at noon for first round action.
UMass coach Judy Dixon believes that next year’s recruiting class will have big shoes to fill as these three have brought the program to new heights.
“These three have been really instrumental in helping us achieve all that we have to achieve,” Dixon said.
As far as the tournament is concerned, the Minutewomen are pleased with their position in the bracket. Top seeded and 29th-ranked Virginia Commonwealth is positioned in a way that UMass’ only potential matchup with the Rams would be in the championship match.
The rest of the field is wide open and Dixon remains confident that her team’s recent play is a big indicator of what is to come.
“Everybody’s looking to be the best second that we can, and we just hope that we can be that team,” Dixon said.
Two Minutewomen received conference honors this week heading into the postseason. Yuliana Motyl was named A-10 Player of the Week while Arielle Griffin was named A-10 Rookie of the Week.
UMass won its prior meeting with the Flyers, 6-1, earlier this season, but Dixon expects an even greater challenge this time around.
“I expect them to know more about our team and come back at us with a lot more preparation,” Dixon said.
Dixon believes the best method to success is by earning wins in doubles points.
“The angle is going to be to get the doubles point, I think that that will set the tone for us,” Dixon said.
What works to the Minutewomen’s advantage is playing in an indoor surface throughout the tournament, which is what they’ve played on most of the season.
“We are basically an indoor team having played inside so much this season,” Dixon said. She believes that their indoor experience sets them apart from the rest of the field.
Despite the high seed, the Minutewomen will ultimately have to win the conference championship to receive a bid into the 64-team NCAA Tournament. With a strong regular season finish and current four-game winning-streak, the Minutewomen have high hopes at their chances of winning their first A-10 crown since 2001.
Ryan Barry can be reached at [email protected] or followed on Twitter @RyanJBarry.
