Bloomsburg Women's Tennis Set for NCAA Final 16

BLOOMSBURG- The Bloomsburg University women's tennis team will compete at the NCAA Final 16 on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., hosted by Rollins College in Altamonte Springs Florida. The Huskies will take on Armstrong-Atlantic (GA), the second ranked team in Division II.

Bloomsburg, 19-3, advanced to the final 16 with a 5-0 win over Slippery Rock in the NCAA East Regionals last Friday. The Huskies, ranked 30th in the latest Fila/ ITA Division II poll, feature a deep roster where each player boasts a winning record. Leading the way for the Huskies is senior Emily Murphy (Worcester/ Methacton) and freshman Katie Hasyn (Lansdale/ North Penn). Murphy is 14-9 and Hasyn is 19-5 with each playing at the top of the singles bracket. Senior Iida Hokkanen (Helsinki, Finland) is 16-6 on the year at third singles, while junior Torie Cunningham (Greenlawn, NY/ Harborfields) is 17-1 playing primarily at number four singles. Cunningham has now won 15 straight singles matches dating back to the fall season. Rounding out the starting lineup, freshman Allison Carney (Muncy/ Muncy) holds an 18-5 record, while junior Tracy Nissenbaum (Allentown/ William Allen) is 13-4 on the season. At doubles, the team of Murphy and Hokkanen have been strong all season for the Huskies, posting a 12-3 record at number one singles. Bloomsburg will be making its second consecutive trip to the Final 16. Last season, the Huskies fell 5-0 to Tarleton St. in the round of 16.

Armstrong Atlantic, 27-0, advanced to the Final 16 with a 5-0 win over 16th ranked Francis Marion at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Final on Friday. The Pirates have a loaded roster, with three members of their team ranked in the top ten. Leading the way is sophomore Iulia Stupak, the top ranked player in Division II, who holds a 29-1 record at number one singles. Stupak also has 32-3 record at doubles, playing primarily with senior Dziyana Nazurek, the sixth-ranked player in Division II. The combo also makes up the top-ranked doubles team. Junior Johanna Dalback is ranked eighth and is 31-6 on the year, playing at number two singles. Last season, Armstrong-Atlantic advanced to the National Championship match before losing to BYU-Hawaii 5-3.

Should the Huskies advance, they will play the winner of Northeastern St. and Valdosta St. on Thursday at 1:00 p.m.