BOX SCORE
FLUSHING, N.Y. (Oct. 26, 2023) – For a second time in three seasons, the Baruch College Bearcats are CUNYAC champions, defeating archrival Hunter 5-2 to capture the 2023 CUNYAC/HSS Women’s Tennis Championship. With the victory, Baruch earns the league’s automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championship in May.
After falling to Hunter in last year’s final, the Bearcats turned in a strong performance against the Hawks at the iconic USTA National Tennis Center to secure conference bragging rights for the eighth time in program history.
Baruch, coming off a 6-0 victory over Lehman in the semifinal round, won two of three doubles contests. At No. 2 doubles, Erica Sheludenko and Aishika Yadav teamed up for an 8-2 victory. The Hawks tied up the match 1-1 at No. 3 doubles when Lily O’Heir and Mia Chan partnered up to pick up an 8-2 win. The Bearcats regained the lead at No. 1 doubles when Ava Deguzman and Esther Benjamin, Baruch's all-time leader in doubles wins, teamed up to post an 8-4 victory.
Baruch extended its lead at No. 2 singles when Yadav blanketed her opponent, 6-0, 6-0. The Bearcats got within one point of victory at No. 4 singles, when Benjamin defeated her opponent in straight sets, 6-0, 6-0.
Deguzman, Baruch’s all-time leader in singles victories, secured the title for Baruch at No. 1 singles, defeating her opponent by a score of 6-2, 6-0. For her performance throughout the afternoon, she was named Most Valuable Player for a second time in her career.
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