MEADVILLE, Pa. -- The Allegheny College women's tennis team captured its third consecutive Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) title with a 4-1 victory over Grove City College on Saturday afternoon.
The top-seeded Gators (11-1) beat the second-seeded Wolverines (11-2) in a rematch of last year's championship match, earning their fourth conference crown since joining the PAC. Allegheny was responsible for Grove City's only two losses this season, including a 5-2 regular-season win on October 10.
As PAC championships, the Blue & Gold will receive the conference's automatic bid into the 2027 NCAA Division III Championships in the spring.
Second-year standout
Gabrielle Bassette (Miami, Fla./Miami Country Day School) was named the PAC Tournament MVP. She helped the Gators grab an early 1-0 lead with one of two 6-1 doubles wins. Bassette, last year's PAC Player and Newcomer of the Year, then earned the clinching point in singles when she took down Grace Stitt in a second-set tiebreaker, 6-3, 7-6 (4). Including the semifinal round against Franciscan University, Bassette ended the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record.
First-years
Chanel Brun (Aix-en-Provence, France/Fox Chapel (Pa.)) and
Claire Terefe (Dallas, Texas/Texas Online Preparatory School) were also included on the PAC All-Tournament Team. Brun was the first to finish her singles match, a straight-set win over Reagan Dougherty in the No. 3 spot. Terefe put the Gators ahead 3-1 with her 6-4, 6-1 defeat of Iris Kiehl in the No. 4 match.
Doubles Results
1.
Gabrielle Bassette /
Claire Terefe def. Grace Yurko / Emma Flanigan, 6-1
2.
Evie Ellenberger /
Adriana Navarro vs. Grace Stitt / Reagan Dougherty, 4-3 (unfinished)
3.
Chanel Brun /
Karlie Nicolae def. Iris Kiehl / Blaire Beatty, 6-1
Singles Results
1.
Gabrielle Bassette def. Grace Stitt, 6-3, 7-6 (4)
2.
Giada Palmieri vs. Grace Yurko, 7-6 (1), 1-1 (unfinished)
3.
Chanel Brun def. Reagan Dougherty, 6-2, 6-3
4.
Claire Terefe def. Iris Kiehl, 6-4, 6-1
5. Blaire Beatty def.
Jade Flores, 6-1, 7-5
6.
Adriana Navarro vs. Emma Flanigan, 6-1, 6-6 (unfinished)
Up Next
Allegheny will begin preparing for its NCAA Tournament run in the spring with a road trip to Kenyon College on Saturday, February 6.
