Scranton Earns NCAA Berth With Landmark Women's Tennis Championship

SELINSGROVE, Pa.—The University of Scranton women's tennis team is now NCAA tournament-bound for the first time in the program's history after defeating Susquehanna University, 5-0, in the championship match of the Landmark Conference tournament Saturday afternoon.

The Royals have knocked on the door in recent years, losing to Moravian College in the Landmark title match in 2008 and 2011, respectively, but they finally have their first conference championship since 1999 with today's win.

Sophomore Devon Cohen (Ambler, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) and freshman Megan Azzalina (Easton, Pa./Notre Dame) won two matches apiece for Scranton, now 10-6. Cohen teamed with fellow sophomore Stephanie Boccuzzi (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) to record an 8-2 win over Abby Hess and Shelby O'Riley at the number one doubles. Cohen then downed O'Riley, 6-2, 6-1, at the number two singles.

Azzalina and her partner, freshman Nicole Mahaffey (Harrisburg, Pa./Trinity), defeated Ellen Pulsinelle and Brielle Ferlauto, 9-7, at the number three doubles and senior Elisha Connell (Orangeburg, NY/Albertus Magnus) and Caitlin Ehly (Philadelphia, Pa./Saint Basil Academy) turned back Susquehanna's Julia Lerner and Jessica Klinger, 8-4, at two.

Azzalina then defeated Pulsinelle in singles, 6-0, 6-3. She has won three straight singles matches to improve to 11-2 on the season. In doubles, she and Mahaffey are now 8-3 on the year.

Cohen, a second-team all-Landmark Conference selection, earned her sixth win of the season in singles and is now 6-7 in doubles with Boccuzzi as her partner.

Story provided by Scranton Sports Information