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2021 East Coast Conference Champions!
2021 East Coast Conference Champions!
Posted: Oct 30, 2021

UDC Women’s Tennis Crowned 2021 ECC Champions; Earns Automatic Bid into NCAA Tournament

Box Score
Team Stats
Doubles
  • Makal, Maja / Sciarrotta, Gabriela def. Parn, Simone / Bellucco, Sofia 6-4
  • Skrzypczynska, J. / Marie, Laura def. Ulander, Nathalie / Schmidt, Lilly 6-3
  • Franco, Mariona / Bahamon, Claudia def. Certain, Chloe / Hotaki, Shakima 7-5
Singles
  • Parn, Simone def. Makal, Maja 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
  • Ulander, Nathalie def. Franco, Mariona 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
  • Sciarrotta, Gabriela def. Bellucco, Sofia 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-1
  • Skrzypczynska, J. def. Hotaki, Shakima 6-3, 6-2
  • Certain, Chloe def. Marie, Laura FINAL - UNFINISHED
  • Brienza, Valentina def. Koitabashi, Mana 7-6 (7-2), 6-3

FLUSHING N.Y.- The University of the District of Columbia's women's tennis team was crowned the East Coast Conference Champions after defeating two-time reigning ECC Champs, Queens college 4-2 in the championship finals. The Firebirds finished the Fall season with a flawless 11-0 record and an NCAA Tournament berth for the Spring.

After a split doubles win with the Knights taking No.1 and the Firebirds taking No.2, the doubles point came down to the No.3 match. The duo of Mariona Franco and Claudia Bahamon fought their way to a 7-5 victory over Chloe Certain and Shakima Hotaki to give the Firebirds the 1-0 lead going into singles play.

The first singles point would come from Joanna Skrzypczynska who went 6-3, 6-2 in her match up against Shakima Hotaki, to extend UDC's lead to 2-0. Queens would then close that deficit with a win at No.2 with Nathalie Ulander handing Franco her first conference loss of the season.

Freshman, Valentina Brienza would go on to remain undefeated on the season, after fighting her way to a 7(7)-6(2), 6-3 victory over Mana Koitabashi and making it a one-point to victory game in the favor of the Firebirds.

Queens snatched up the next point with a win at No.3 but Simoné Pärn would avenge a regular-season loss while clinching the winning point for the Firebirds defeating the reigning ECC preseason player of the year Maja Makal in a thrilling 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 battle.

"I am extremely proud of the team's accomplishment today," said Coach Mahaffey.  "The team worked very hard this Fall, believed in themselves, and supported each other throughout the journey.  They truly earned this championship!"

UDC's last time winning the conference championships was back in 2011, which was also the last time they won the regular-season title.