#3 Women’s Tennis Hosts #6 Mt. Ida in GNAC Quarterfinals

BOSTON – The third-seeded Suffolk women's tennis team entertains sixth-seeded Mount Ida in the quarterfinals of the 2016 GNAC Championships Wednesday, Oct.19. First serve in the win-and-advance match is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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THE FIELD
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, Oct. 19
Match 1: #6 Mount Ida at #3 Suffolk – 6:00 p.m. at Buckingham, Browne & Nichols
Match 2: #5 Albertus Magnus at #4 Saint Joseph (Conn.) – 3 p.m. 

Semifinals – Saturday, Oct. 22 – Winchester Tennis Center
Match 3: Match 2 winner vs. #1 Johnson & Wales – 2
Match 4: Match 1 winner vs. #2 Simmons – 4:30 p.m. 

Championship – Sunday, Oct. 23 – Winchester Tennis Center
Match 5: Match 3 winner vs. Match 4 winner – 12:30 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT
The Suffolk women's tennis team capped off its 2016 regular season in sweeping fashion Saturday afternoon as the Rams blanked Mount Ida, 9-0, at Buckingham, Browne & Nichols.  

MORE READING: Women's Tennis Sweeps Mount Ida in Season Finale

RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk (8-8) used stellar play from its top two players to claim sit in a three-way tie for first in the GNAC standings thanks to a 9-0 sweep of Mount Ida Saturday afternoon. The Rams lost the tiebreaker and head-to-head with Johnson & Wales and Simmons, respectively, to claim the third seed in the tournament. 

Aidiana Sagyndykova powered the Rams throughout conference play, competing in all six matches on both courts for an unblemished 6-0 singles mark in the first and second positions and a 5-1 doubles ledger on the first and second courts. Overall, the senior is 14-0 in dual singles matches (14-1 on the season) and 12-3 in doubles dual matches (13-4 overall). 

Valentina Medina, meanwhile, has also proved to be a consistent threat for Suffolk. The junior posts an identical singles ledger in dual (14-0) and overall play (14-1), but has stood out as the prime Rams doubles partner, putting together a 14-2 season doubles mark (13-1 in dual play), which includes an unbeaten 8-0 ledger when teaming up with junior Isabel Rathlev. 

MUSTANGS MUST KNOW
Mt. Ida could not upset Suffolk in its season finale last Oct. 15 to remain winless in October. The Mustangs claimed the sixth-seed in the GNAC Championships thanks to a 1-5 conference ledger. 

Jenna Jarman (3-4) and Rebecca Levy (1-3) have split time as the Mustangs ace, while the duo has partnered in doubles action as Mt. Ida's top tandem for six matches and sits at 4-3 overall. 

WE MEET AGAIN

Suffolk swept Mount Ida in its season finale just five days earlier. The Rams won every court in straight sets to seal up its 5-1 conference fate. 

RAMS IN THE GNAC CHAMPIONSHIP
The Rams will be making their 10th straight appearance in the GNAC Tournament and fourth appearance as the third seed. Suffolk has advanced to the semifinals three times from the quarterfinals and received four byes into the final four. Overall, the Rams are 6-8 in GNAC post-season play (3-2 quarterfinals, 2-5 semifinals, 1-1 finals). 

Suffolk has faced Mount Ida in conference postseason action twice – 2010 and 2014 – and swept the Mustangs both times. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of the match advances to the semifinals versus second-seeded Simmons Saturday, Oct. 22 at 4:30 p.m.