GREENSBURG, Pa. (pacathletics.org)--Franciscan University and Washington & Jefferson College will meet in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Women's Tennis Championship Tournament title match Wednesday.

In Saturday's semifinal round, top-seeded Franciscan (11-2) earned a 5-1 decision over No. 4 Grove City College (9-5) while No. 2 Washington & Jefferson College (8-2) claimed a 5-2 decision over No. 3 Westminster College (10-3).  

The semifinal round was scheduled to be hosted by W&J at its on-campus Janet Swanson Tennis Center Friday, but due to lingering showers in the Washington, Pa. area the two matches were postponed until Saturday and moved indoors to the Greensburg Racquet Club. 

The title match of this year's PAC Championship Tournament will be contested on Wednesday, October 27. The location and start time will be announced Tuesday afternoon.

This year's PAC Championship Tournament features a six-team championship bracket format. Wednesday's championship match will utilize the nine-point team format with matches played to decision (first team to 5 individual match wins). 

In Saturday's first semifinal, Franciscan scored wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to enter singles play leading 2-1.

Franciscan sophomore Maria Herrera (Houston, Texas | Clear Brook) and freshman Olivia Colby (Merrimac, Mass. | Pentucket Regional) defeated Grove City sophomore Lexi Chappel (Butler, Pa. | Slippery Rock) and junior Logan Foos (Grove City, Pa. | Grove City) 8-1 at number one doubles. Franciscan junior Caroline Picard (Mobile, Ala. | McGill-Toolen Catholic) and freshman Laina Anderson defeated Grove City freshman Alyssa Good (Wapakoneta, Ohio | Wapokoneta) and senior Sydney Adams (Grove City, Pa. | Grove City) at third doubles. 

Anderson claimed a 6-0, 6-1 win over Ally Gaines (Clearfield, Pa. | Clearfield) at No. 6 singles and Colby earned a 6-3, 6-2 win over Chappel at No. 2 singles. Herrera secured the match with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Fuss at No. 1 singles.  

In Saturday's second semifinal, W&J picked up victories at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles to head into singles play up 2-1. 

W&J senior Maya Krishnasamy (Ventura, Calif. | Ventura) and junior Bella Goldman (Pittsburgh, Pa. | Upper St. Clair) won 8-6 at No. 1 doubles against Westminster first-year players Emma Sukal (Pittsburgh, Pa. | Baldwin) and Gia Francisco (Canfield, Ohio | Canfield). 

W&J freshman Nidhi Pulicherla (Chandler, Ariz. | Hamilton) and sophomore Libby Conlon (Renfrew, Pa. | Knoch) won 8-7 (8-6) over Westminster first-years Ryleigh Valone (Erie, Pa. | Villa Maria Academy) and Taylor Dlugozima (Volant, Pa. | Wilmington) at No. 3 doubles.

Goldman won 6-3, 6-1 over Francisco at No. 3 singles and Krishnasamy won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 1 singles over Sukal. Fox scored a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 4 singles over W&J junior Victoria Wilson (Butler, Pa. North Catholic) before freshman Pooja Potluri (West Fargo, N.D. | West Fargo) ended the match with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Dlugozima at No. 6 singles. 

This year’s tournament champion will secure the PAC’s automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Championships. Team selections for the Division III Championships will be announced Monday, May 9, 2022. The first round of the Division III Championships is slated for Thursday, May 12. 
 

2021 PAC Women's Tennis Championship Tournament
Tuesday, October 19 Start times tentative
3:30 p.m.	Quarterfinal	No. 3 Westminster 9, No. 6 Thiel 0	New Wilmington, Pa.
3:30 p.m.	Quarterfinal	No. 4 Grove City 7, No. 5 Saint Vincent 2	Grove City, Pa.
Saturday, October 23 Start times tentative
3 p.m.	Semifinal (1)	No. 1 Franciscan 5, No. 4 Grove City 1	Greensburg, Pa.
6:30 p.m.	Semifinal (2)	No. 2 W&J 5, No. 3 Westminster 2	Greensburg, Pa.
Wednesday, October 27 Start times tentative
TBD	Championship	No. 1 Franciscan vs. No. 2 W&J	TBD