FLUSHING, N.Y. – For the first time since 2016, the Baruch College Bearcats are the CUNYAC Women’s Tennis Champions, defeating arch rival Hunter, 5-2, on Thursday afternoon at the iconic USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
In a rematch of the 2019 final, it was the top-seeded Bearcats (12-1) who came away with the victory, winning the conference championship for the seventh time in program history.
Baruch, coming off a 5-0 win over Brooklyn in the semifinals, found themselves trailing after doubles play, as the No. 2 seed Hawks (8-3) took two of three doubles contests. The Bearcats claimed No. 1 doubles, as the tandem of
Ava Deguzman and
Natalie Ibehaupt earned an 8-4 victory over the Hawks team of
Zaara Afida and
Liliko Chung.
However, Hunter, coming off a 5-0 victory over John Jay in the semifinals, claimed the next two doubles matches. In No. 3 doubles, the team
of Lily O’Heir and
Mia Chan was victorious over
Regina Kelley and
Erica Sheludenko with an 8-4 decision. The Hawks took a 2-1 lead into singles play following an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles, led by
Angelina Catania and
Yana Rabkova.
At No. 1 singles, Deguzman, the CUNYAC Player of the Year, cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win over CUNYAC All-Star Afida. With the win, Deguzman improved to 13-0 overall in singles matches this season. For her efforts throughout the championship, the freshman was tabbed the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
In No. 4 singles, Kelley, who entered the match unbeaten (3-0) at the No. 4 position, gave the Bearcats a 3-2 advantage following a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Chung.
Esther Benjamin, a CUNYAC First Team All-Star, put Baruch one win away from the championship with her performance at No. 3 singles, defeating Rabkova in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.
Sheludenko clinched the victory for the Bearcats, rallying from an opening set deficit to defeat Chan at No. 5 singles, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1.
With the victory Baruch earns the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship, set to be played in May.