During the fall semester, the City University of New York Athletic Conference will look back at some of its historic fall championship teams, recognizing the rich tradition of athletic excellence by the league's 13 member institutions.
The Baruch women's tennis team had one of its best seasons in program history in 2015, capturing its first City University of New York Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship in nearly two decades.
Coming off a season in which the team finished 6-8 overall with a third consecutive finish in the CUNYAC Women's Tennis Semifinals, the Bearcats looked to get over the hump to win their first league title since 1997.
Baruch cruised through the regular season, going a perfect 11-0 with an unblemished 6-0 mark against conference opposition, earning its first regular season championship since 1994.
Baruch's strong play continued into the postseason. The top-seeded Bearcats blanketed fourth-seeded Brooklyn, 5-0, in the semifinals, advancing to the women's tennis championship for the first time since 2010.
The 2015 CUNYAC Women's Tennis Championship, held on the campus of Queens College, featured Baruch and second-seeded rival Hunter. The Bearcats won all three doubles and followed with victories in No. 2 and No. 3 singles. Per postseason rules, the match was halted upon the first team to reach five points. The win secured the team's fourth CUNYAC championship in program history and the team's first title in 18 years.
Daria Vasekina was named the Tournament MVP, wrapping up an undefeated fall season individually that saw her go 12-0 in singles and 13-0 in doubles.
"I am very proud of the team," said Head Coach
Florin Giuglescu, who also coached the women to their last title in 1997. "This team was together all season and each contributed equally to this championship. Hard work and team support helped made this championship possible."
At the end of the fall campaign, three Bearcats earned CUNYAC All-Star recognition, including: Vasekin,
Allie Jackson-Hing and
Isabel Arias, while Giuglescu was voted Coach of the Year.
As a tune up for the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship, Baruch competed in a pair of matches in the spring, earning a road victory over Mount Saint Mary and a loss to Skyline Champion Farmingdale State, the squad's first loss of the season.
The Bearcats' historic campaign came to an end in the NCAA first round, suffering a 5-0 loss to TCNJ.
Baruch finished the season 14-2, a team record for win percentage in a single season (.875).
To date, Baruch has won six conference championships in the sport of women's tennis, including titles in 1988, 1989, 1997, 2015 and 2016.
#CUNYAC Fall Throwback Series