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HERSHEY, Pa. — Mount St. Mary’s women’s tennis closed out the regular season with a 5–2 victory over Rider at the Hershey Racquet Club, locking up a second-place finish in the MAAC standings. The Mount improves to 13–8 overall and 6–2 in conference play, while Rider falls to 3–18 (1–7 MAAC).
The win marks Mount St. Mary’s third straight and its 11th in the last 12 matches, continuing a remarkable surge to close the season. The 13 victories are the program’s most since the 2009-10 team went 16–9, and represent an 11-win improvement from last season’s 2–19 campaign.
Mount took the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2. Venus Tang and Bella Pescatore earned a 6–2 victory at the top spot, while Emma Perkins and Anna Barlini followed with a 6–4 win. Rider picked up its lone doubles win at No. 3.
In singles, the Mount secured four victories to clinch the match. Eirini Tsakiri rallied from a set down to win 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 at No. 2, while Venus Tang added a 6–3, 6–2 win at No. 3. Bella Pescatore was dominant in a 6–2, 6–1 victory at No. 5, and Anna Barlini sealed the team win with a 6–1, 6–4 decision at No. 6.
Rider earned points at Nos. 1 and 4 singles, but the Mount’s depth proved decisive in securing the victory.
With the win, Mount St. Mary’s finishes second in the MAAC standings—the program’s highest finish since joining the conference in 2022-23—and qualifies for the MAAC Championships for the second time.
Up Next: Mount St. Mary’s will face third-seeded Sacred Heart in the semifinals of the MAAC Championships on Friday, April 24, at 4:00 p.m. The championships will be held at the Princeton University Racquet and Fieldhouse.
Mount St. Mary’s 5, Rider 2
Records: Mount St. Mary’s (13–8, 6–2 MAAC), Rider (3–18, 1–7 MAAC)
Doubles
No. 1 – Venus Tang / Bella Pescatore (MSM) def. Sofia Gutierrez / Daniela Naves (RIDER), 6–2
No. 2 – Emma Perkins / Anna Barlini (MSM) def. Jolie Kaiser / Elle Catanzarite (RIDER), 6–4
No. 3 – Anna Bong / Lisa Dierick (RIDER) def. Margherita Trolese / Eirini Tsakiri (MSM), 6–0
Singles
No. 1 – Lisa Dierick (RIDER) def. Emma Perkins (MSM), 6–1, 6–2
No. 2 – Eirini Tsakiri (MSM) def. Jolie Kaiser (RIDER), 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
No. 3 – Venus Tang (MSM) def. Anna Bong (RIDER), 6–3, 6–2
No. 4 – Daniela Naves (RIDER) def. Margherita Trolese (MSM), 6–2, 2–6, 6–2
No. 5 – Bella Pescatore (MSM) def. Sofia Gutierrez (RIDER), 6–2, 6–1
No. 6 – Anna Barlini (MSM) def. Kashish Kant (RIDER), 6–1, 6–4