Women's Tennis Moravian Athletic Communications

Moravian Defeats Hunter (N.Y.) in Opening Round of NCAA Division III Tournament

AMHERST, Mass. -The Moravian University women's tennis team defeated Hunter (N.Y.) College, 4-0, in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament, Friday in a regional being hosted by Amherst (Mass.) College.

How It Happened
  • The Greyhounds won two of the three doubles matches to open the contest as the Blue & Grey clinched the doubles point and a 1-0 advantage. The duo of sophomore Jenna Gower and freshman Kaelyn Balko recorded a 6-3 win at third doubles, while the Hawks won 6-3 at first doubles. Moravian's tandem of junior Sydney Shifman and freshman Natalia Smith earned a 6-2 victory at second doubles to put the Hounds on top.
  • Balko was the first to finish in singles action as she posted a 6-0, 6-1 triumph at fifth singles to make it 2-0. Smith followed with a 6-0, 6-2 win at third singles, while Shifman had a 6-2, 6-1 victory at fourth singles to clinch the match and send Moravian into the Second Round
  • The Hounds won the first set in two of the three unfinished matches, with senior Izzy Szmodis up 6-1, 4-4 at second singles and freshman Madi Schottman leading 6-3, 3-5 at sixth singles. Junior Leah Zolotareva lost her first set at first singles in a tiebreaker, but had a 4-1 edge in the second set when the Blue & Grey clinched the victory.

NCAA Division III Tournament History
  • The Greyhounds are competing in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the fifth time, and the program has now won NCAA Tournament First Round matches in 2019, 2021, and 2026 as Moravian is 3-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament play

Up Next for the Greyhounds
  • Saturday, May 9 vs. No. 4 Wesleyan (Conn.) College in NCAA Division III Tournament Second Round at Amherst (Mass.) College, 10:00 a.m.