MATCH INFORMATION
Match No. 18
Daemen Wildcats (8-9, 1-6 ECC) vs. Mercyhurst Lakers (4-0, 0-0 PSAC)
Saturday, Feb. 17 | 12 PM | Erie, Pa. | Pennbriar Tennis Center
MATCH LINKS
Game Day
THE SERVE
Daemen opens the spring semester portion of their 2017-18 season this weekend by visiting non-conference foe Mercyhurst. The Wildcats put together an eight-win campaign during the fall season, the most wins the team has ever had during the fall, and just one win shy of tying the program's record for wins in a full season which was established during last year's 9-15 campaign. Daemen has been idle since a 6-3 loss to LIU Post on Oct. 21. They'll do battle with a Mercyhurst team that has yet to taste defeat in a dual match this season. The Lakers are coming off a 6-1 win over Division I St. Bonaventure this past weekend.
BEATTY'S BACK
Stephen Beatty returns for his fifth season as the head coach of the Wildcats...over the course of his first four seasons, Beatty has guided the Daemen women's tennis team to a 33-61 record...a former collegiate player at Division II Northwood University (Mich.) and Division III D'Youville College, Beatty got his coaching start as an assistant to Kelly Brown, serving for one season--Daemen's inaugural season of tennis competition--before being promoted to the top post.
RETURNING WILDCATS
The Wildcats are coming off a 9-15 campaign in 2016-17 (1-6 in ECC play), setting the team record for most wins in a season. They will enter the season without the services of Hayle Scanlan and Karli Hollins, two of the most decorated players in team history who were lost to graduation. Veterans Gretchen Ringler (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) and Jessica Robins (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) return to lead the team this season. The duo has combined to make 124 starts in singles play and 100 starts in doubles play in their careers. Ringler posted an 8-16 record at No. 3 singles last year and enters the season ranked second in career singles wins (30) among the program's all-time leaders. Robbins went 11-13 at No. 4 singles. Junior Morgan Park (Hamburg, N.Y./Hamburg) also returns after going 4-5 at No. 6 singles as a sophomore.
FRESH FACES
Daemen welcomes three true freshmen to the 2017-18 squad, including local product Christina Stasiuk (Bowmansville, N.Y./Lancaster). Stasiuk was a four-year member of the Lancaster girl's varsity tennis team. A two-time team captain and two-time team MVP, she played No. 1 singles and qualified for the Section VI championships her junior and senior year. Fellow freshmen Giovanna Paschoalin (Sao Caetano Do Sui, Brazil) and Lorissa Yuen (Portland, Ore./Sunset) are also expected to see significant playing time.
IMPRESSING AT ITA'S
Freshman Lorissa Yuen was the headliner for Daemen at the prestigious ITA East Region Championship tournament held in mid-September at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, site of the U.S. Open. Yuen went 3-1 in singles matches; her first two wins came in the qualifying draw and gave her the right to advance into the main singles draw. In her main draw opening round match, Yuen downed Karen Serina of Adelphi, 6-4, 6-4. She would bow out in the second round, however, falling to Dominika Hadnadova from District of Columbia.
CONFERENCE ACCOLADES
Freshman Lorissa Yuen was named the East Coast Conference Rookie of the Week for matches held August 28 through September 3. Yuen led the Wildcats to wins over St. Michael's and American International during the week, posting a perfect 2-0 record in both singles and doubles play in the two matches. She became the first Daemen player to earn ECC Rookie of the Week honors since Brianna Fiorita did so in the opening week of the 2013-14 season.
RECORD CHASERS
Freshmen Lorissa Yuen and Christina Stasiuk have each made an immediate impact in their rookie season, and both are in position to chase down a pair of team records. With both Yuen and Stasiuk sitting at 12-9 in singles play this season, they are both two wins shy of tying the team record for singles wins in a season (14 set by Hayle Scanlan in 2016-17). They are also one win shy of matching the team record for singles wins by a freshman (13 by Gretchen Ringler in 2014-15).
UNCHARTED TERRITORY
Daemen's 8-1 win at Millersville on Oct. 10 gave the team seven wins during the fall season, marking the first time that's been achieved in the history of the program which dates back to the 2012-13 season. After adding a 7-2 win at Caldwell on Oct. 15, the Wildcats enter this spring season with eight wins, just one shy of matching the team record for total wins in a season set last year.
MERCYHURST SCOUTING REPORT
Mercyhust is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and the Lakers are led by veteran head coach Jerome Simon who is now in his seventh season at the helm. Simon inherited one of the top programs in the PSAC, and has led the Lakers to a 91-31 record in his tenure to date. The Lakers ended the 2016-17 season with a 19-3 overall record, and appearances in the PSAC Tournament finals and the NCAA Atlantic Regional. Senior Saioa Gomez de Segura, the 2016-17 PSAC Western Division Athlete of the Year, returns after posting records of 30-2 (singles) and 26-6 (doubles) last season. Junior Kayla Frost, a first team All-PSAC selection last season, also returns. The Lakers are a perfect 4-0 in dual matches so far this season. They opened their spring season last Sunday, Feb. 11 with a 6-1 road win over Division I St. Bonaventure.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Daemen vs. Mercyhurst: 0-1
Streak: Lost 1
Last Meeting: Mercyhurst 9 Daemen 0 | Apr. 7, 2013 | Erie, Pa.
UP NEXT
Daemen hosts Clarion (Feb. 23) and Le Moyne (Feb. 24) at Miller Tennis Center next weekend.
