PITTSBURGH -- The Allegheny College women's tennis team made its second appearance in the NCAA Division III Championships on Thursday afternoon, falling in the first round to No. 45-ranked Ohio Northern University, 4-0, at the Carnegie Mellon University regional.

The Gators concluded the 2024-25 season with an 18-8 overall record after winning their second PAC championship in three seasons. Ohio Northern improved to 19-4 and will advance to face the winner of Friday afternoon's Carnegie Mellon-Penn State Behrend first-round match.

The Polar Bears earned the doubles point with a pair of 6-0 decisions in the second and third matches before closing the contest with singles wins in the second, third, and sixth spots in the lineup. Although her match was unfinished, Emilia Grydnieva (Kyiv, Ukraine/Optima) challenged ONU's top player, Lauren Okrainec, in the No. 1 contest. Grydnieva dropped the first set 7-5, but her five games won in that set were the most by any Gator in singles competition.

Doubles Results
1. Jenna Bell / Caroline Robinson vs. Emiliia Grydnieva / Jillian Clark, 5-2 (unfinished)
2. Abby Cruser / Julianne Sheldon def. Nicole Serna Cassan / Adriana Navarro, 6-0
3. Miranda Wills / Lauren Okrainec def. Maria Lounder / Rei Etsumi, 6-0

Singles Results
1. Lauren Okrainec vs. Emiliia Grydnieva, 7-5, 1-0 (unfinished)
2. Jenna Bell def. Nicole Serna Cassan, 6-0, 6-1
3. Abby Cruser def. Rei Etsumi, 6-1, 6-1
4. Jamie Hurst vs. Maria Lounder, 6-2, 5-0 (unfinished)
5. Miranda Wills vs. Adriana Navarro, 6-2, 3-2 (unfinished)
6. Leah Schleibaum def. Mackenzie Burd, 6-1, 6-1