Marist Wins 2011 MAAC Women's Tennis Championship
MAAC Sports
Flushing, N.Y. - #2 Marist defeated #1 Fairfield, 4-3, to claim the 2011 MAAC Women's Tennis Championship at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It is the third title in program history for the Red Foxes and the first since winning back-to-back championships in 2007 and 2008.
Marist took a 1-0 lead after doubles as Kelsey Raynor and Erin McCarthy won 8-6 at the first position and Jeannie Lukin and Retta Byron took an 8-5 decision at third position.
Marist went ahead 2-0 after Joana Sun cruised to a 6-0, 6-4 victory at third singles. Fairfield's Caroline Emhardt got the Stags first point with a win (6-1, 6-4) at fifth singles. Sharissa Ryan leveled the match at 2-2 with a 7-5, 6-4 win at second position. Ryan rallied back from deficits of 4-1 and 5-2 in the first set.
The championship came down to first, fourth, and sixth singles as they all headed to third and deciding sets. Monica Yajima put Fairfield ahead 3-2 with a 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-5 win at the first position. Moments later Marist's Byron completed her comeback (4-6, 6-2, 6-2) at the sixth spot.
The match was tied 3-3 with only fourth singles still playing, a match-up between Marist's Marielle Campbell and Fairfield's Nikki Jackson. Jackson had taken the first set 7-5, but Campbell responded with a 6-2 win in the second set. Her momentum continued into the third set as she outlasted Jackson 6-3 and secured the championship for Marist.
Campbell was named the 2011 MAAC Women's Tennis Championship Most Outstanding Performer.
Marist will receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.