MEADVILLE, Pa. -- The top-seeded Allegheny College women's tennis completed an undefeated fall season on Saturday afternoon at the Robertson Tennis Complex, as the Gators edged Franciscan University in a 5-4 thriller for the 2022 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) championship.

The conference crown is just the third in program history and the first since the 1985 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) title. With the win, the Gators (14-0, 8-0 PAC) have punched their ticket to the 2023 NCAA Division III Championships, which will be held at the UTSA National Campus in Orlando, Florida, from May 14-22.

Like the regular-season meeting between the Gators and Barons (10-3, 7-1 PAC), which ended in a 6-3 score on September 14 in Steubenville, Ohio, Franciscan started with a strong doubles performance to take an early lead. The Barons won at No. 1 and No. 3, with the duo of Katherine Marks (Argyle, Texas/Liberty Christian) and Maria Lounder (Pittsburgh, Pa./Moon Area) earning AC's lone doubles point.

Allegheny briefly took a 3-2 lead following the first singles matches, which were won by Jean-Arlette Legrand (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Commonwealth Parkville School) and Lounder at No. 3 and No. 5. However, the Barons regained momentum and the lead when Maria Herrera outlasted Marks in a three-set battle at No. 1 and Claire Cardie defeated Sabrina Rodriguez (Kissimmee, Fla./Professional and Technical), 7-5, 6-3. Ryan Cox (Tracy, Calif./Home School) leveled the score at 4-all with her straight-set triumph at No. 6, leaving all eyes on the second singles bout between Ella Swan (Nashville, Tenn./Hume-Fogg Academic) and Kina Ehlers.

Trailing early in the opening set, Swan came from behind and prevailed in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (4). Winning the first set may have been the difference for the senior from Nashville, Tennessee, native, who was able to play with the lead while Ehlers became visibly frustrated with her miscues as the match wore on. With a narrow 3-2 advantage in the second set, Swan didn't surrender another game en route to a 6-2 victory.
 

Your 2022 PAC Womens Tennis Champions!@alleghenytenn1s ?? pic.twitter.com/LMJUgjLWSc

— Allegheny Gators (@ACGatorSports) October 15, 2022

Doubles Results
1. Maria Herrera / Olivia Colby def. Ella Swan / Jean-Arlette Legrand, 8-2
2. Katherine Marks / Maria Lounder def. Haley Davinsizer / Estelle Leon, 8-1
3. Kina Ehlers / Claire Cardie def. Sabrina Rodriguez / Ryan Cox, 8-5

Singles Results
1. Maria Herrera def. Katherine Marks, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1
2. Ella Swan def. Kina Ehlers, 7-6 (4), 6-2
3. Jean-Arlette Legrand def. Olivia Colby, 6-2, 6-3
4. Clarie Cardie def. Sabrina Rodriguez, 7-5, 6-3
5. Maria Lounder def. Haley Davinsizer, 6-0, 6-4
6. Ryan Cox def. Estelle Leon, 6-4, 6-2

News and Notes

• Swan was crowned the PAC Championship Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
• Swan, Marks, and Legrand were named to the PAC All-Tournament Team.
• The conference title is the third in AC women's tennis program history.

Up Next
The Gators will return to action for the spring portion of the 2022-23 season following the holiday break.