MONROEVILLE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend women's tennis team won their 13th overall Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship with a 5-4 win over Pitt-Greensburg on Sunday afternoon at The Club/Sport & Health Complex in Monroeville, Pa.
After defeating Franciscan in the semifinals 5-1, the Lions had a chance to avenge a 5-4 regular season loss to Pitt-Greensburg in the championship match. Behrend stopped the Bobcats short of their first AMCC crown, while reclaiming the title after a year hiatus.
The match came down to No. 5 singles, featuring Amanda Jespen and Colleen Miller (Louisville, PA/Louisville). Miller won a thrilling three-set match to help the Lions earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in the spring.
Behrend took a 2-1 into the singles competition. Alexandra Laffey (Sewickley, PA/North Allegheny) and Chelsea Czerwinski (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst Prep) posted a commanding 8-1 win at No. 1 doubles. Celeste Bentley (Harborcreek, PA/Harbor Creek) and Kelly Miller (Louisville, OH/Louisville) remained undefeated at No. 3 doubles with an identical 8-1 victory.
The Lions were close to sweeping the doubles play, but C. Miller and Jacqueline Cannella (Bradford Woods, PA/North Allegheny) fell 9-7 at the No. 2 spot.
The close match stayed close with the start of the singles competition. Laffey defeated Alexandra Claherty at the second spot 6-0, 6-0, however the Bobcats came right back with a win at No. 4 singles. Sydney Geary posted a 6-1, 6-0 decision over Kat McDonough (Pittsburgh, PA/Oakland Catholic).
The next singles win captured was by Malinda Miller (Champions, PA/Connellsville) to put Behrend one win away from the AMCC title. She defeated Lindsay Bonacci (6-4, 6-1) at No. 6 for a 4-1 lead.
With three matches left, Pitt-Greensburg won the first set forcing the Lions to have to win one in three sets in order to championship. Czerwinski fell to Shayla Landman 7-6, 6-1 with a 7-4 score in the tiebreaker for the first set at No. 1 singles.
At No. 4 singles, Corinne Kirk defeated Cannella 6-4, 6-2, leaving it up to the No. 5 singles match. Amanda Jespen and C. Miller split the first set 1-1. Jespen won 5-7 and Miller claimed the second set, 6-2. Miller grabbed an early 2-1 lead in the third set before Jespen went ahead, 4-2. Miller battled to win four straight points for a 6-4 victory and the match.
