TRAFFORD, Pa. (pacathletics.org) - Following two days of weather delays, the 2024 Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Women's Tennis Tournament got underway Thursday with Westminster College and Franciscan University posting quarterfinal victories to advance to the semifinal round on Saturday.

With fourth-seeded Westminster's 5-2 win over No. 5 Washington & Jefferson College (7-6), the Titans improve to 8-3 this season and move on to play the top-seed Allegheny College (13-2) Saturday at 1 pm in Meadville. Franciscan, who entered the Tournament as the sixth seed, pulled off a 4-1 upset over No. 3 Saint Vincent College (13-4). That sends the Barons (9-4) to second-seeded Grove City College (10-2) for a 1 pm semifinal match Saturday.

The semifinal winners will play in the PAC Tournament Championship Match Monday, Oct. 21 at the highest remaining seed.

Westminster's quarterfinal victory on Thursday began by taking the doubles point. The Titans scored wins at second doubles by senior Ryleigh Valone (Erie, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) and sophomore Emma Overlingas (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) by a 6-3 count and third doubles by a similar 6-3 score by sophomore Morgan Allen (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) and senior Taylor Dlugozima (Volant, Pa. Wilmington).

Singles play began with a Titan win at fifth singles by Allen (6-2, 6-2), but W&J evened the match with straight-set victories at first and second singles. Junior Nidhi Pulicherla (Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton) won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 1 and sophomore Claire Loomis (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper St. Clair) posted a 6-0, 7-6 (5) triumph at No. 2 to even the match at 2-2.

Westminster would close out the win by taking the final three singles matches, starting with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 decision at sixth singles by junior Grace Askey (Dubois, Pa./Jeff Tech). The match-ups at third and fourth singles went the distance after W&J won the first set in both. The Titans would rally in both matches and claim three-set wins at third singles by Valone (4-6, 6-0, 6-2) and fourth singles by Overlingas (4-6, 6-1, 6-2) to advance to the semifinals for the seventh consecutive year.

The Titans' match-up with Allegheny is the third straight year the teams will face in the semifinals. The Gators have won the previous two and also claimed the regular season meeting between the teams this year by a 7-0 score on Oct. 12.

In the other quarterfinal, Franciscan jumped in front by winning the point in doubles, thanks to victories at first doubles (6-1) by junior Claire Cardie (Dublin, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and junior Kina Ehlers (Westerville, Ohio/Big Walnut) and second doubles (6-2) by sophomore Jordan Beltavski (Chardon, Ohio/The Lyceum) and senior Olivia Colby (Merrimac, Mass./Pentucket Regional).

The teams split the first two decisions in singles, with the Barons taking first singles in straight sets (6-0, 6-0) by Cardie and the Bearcats getting a 6-1, 6-1 win at sixth singles by senior Abby Donnelly (Washington, Pa./McGuffey). Franciscan clinched their spot in the semifinal round by posting wins at third singles (6-2, 6-0) by Ehlers and fourth singles (6-2, 6-2) by Beltavski. The win was the first by a sixth-seeded team in the PAC Women's Tennis Tournament since the PAC began a team-bracket format in 2018.

Saint Vincent was down their top player in the match, playing without junior Carolina Walters (Latrobe, Pa./Homeschooled), who was sidelined due to injury. Walters, who played in the No. 1 singles and doubles spot for the duration of the season, closed the fall with a perfect 15-0 singles mark.

Franciscan will face a familiar foe in the semifinals Saturday, as this will mark the fifth consecutive year the Barons and Grove City have played with a spot in the title match on the line. Franciscan had won three in a row over the Wolverines prior to last year, but Grove City earned a 5-2 victory in the 2023 semifinals on their way to winning the PAC championship. The Wolverines also won the regular season meeting this year between the programs by a 5-2 score Oct. 10.