Scranton Locks Up Postseason Spot With Win

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Needing a win to guarantee a Landmark Conference playoff spot, The University of Scranton women's tennis team came through with a clutch performance in a 6-3 win at Susquehanna University on Saturday afternoon.

The Royals (7-5, 4-2) got a pair of wins each from freshmen Megan Azzalina (Easton, Pa./Notre Dame) and Nichole Mahaffey (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity).

Azzalina won a heart-pounding match at No. 4 singles, rallying to defeat Susquehanna junior Abby Hess (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville), 3-6, 7-6, 11-9. She also teamed with junior Cristina Marzello (Bethpage, N.Y./Plainhedge) for an 8-6 win at No. 3 doubles.

Mahaffey rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles over Susquehanna junior Ellen Pulsinelle (Lyndhurst, N.J./Immaculate Conception), and also teamed with senior Caitlin Ehly (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) for a 9-7 win at No. 2 doubles.

Scranton also received singles victories from sophomore Stephanie Boccuzzi (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) and senior Elisha Connell (Orangeburg, N.Y./Albertus Magnus). Buccuzzi defeated Susquehanna senior Julia Lerner (Arlington, Va./Washington-Lee), 7-5, 0-6, 6-1, while Connell knocked off Crusaders freshman Shelby O'Riley (Ware, Mass./Quabbin Regional), 6-2, 6-2.

The win guarantees the Royals no worse than third place in the Landmark Conference. They can still finish second and host a first-round playoff matchup depending on the outcome of Moravian's remaining two matches.

The loss drops Susquehanna to 8-5 overall and 3-2 in the Landmark Conference.

Scranton will play its final regular season match when it hosts Wilkes on Sunday, April 22, at 1 p.m. at Royal Courts at DeNaples Fields.

Story provided by Scranton Sports Information