CLINTON, S.C. – The Presbyterian College women's tennis team (5-8, 1-0 Big South) will host conference foe NJIT before hitting the road for two matches this weekend. The Blue Hose face NJIT on Thursday afternoon (March 19) at 2:00 p.m. PC will next face NC Central on the road on Saturday (March 21) at 1:00 p.m. before finishing the weekend at UNCG on Sunday (March 22) at 1:00 p.m.
MATCH NOTES
- Live scoring will be available for the matches on Thursday and Sunday.
- Free cookies will be available for Thursday's match for fans as supplies last.
BLUE HOSE NOTES
- Presbyterian was originally scheduled to face Gardner-Webb this Thursday at home, but the match was ruled a forfeit victory for PC.
- The Blue Hose return to action for the first time since Saturday, March 7. PC fell to Wofford on the road 4-3 in Spartanburg.
- PC won the doubles point against the Terriers. Sofia Rodrigo Hidalgo and Mary Ellen Longmire added singles wins as well on courts five and six.
- Ladina Bruhin and Mary Ellen Longmire pace Presbyterian this year in singles with five wins apiece. All of Bruhin's wins have come on the top court. Grace Katzman and Luciana Parilli are tied for second on the team with four singles wins.
- Katzman and Longmire have been dominant this year in doubles, boasting a 6-1 record. Bruhin and Roxy Valdes are second on the team with four wins.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BLUE HOSE
The Blue Hose return four from last season to this year's squad. McKenzie Davis, Mary Ellen Longmire, Sofia Rodrigo Hidalgo, and Elle Sceney are all back for Presbyterian. Five newcomers join PC this season as well. Katherine Bauer, Ladina Bruhin, Luciana Parrilli, and Roxy Valdes highlight the Blue Hose freshmen class. Finally, sophomore transfer Grace Katzman comes to the Blue Hose from North Greenville University.
FALL BIG SOUTH DOUBLES CHAMPIONS
McKenzie Davis and Ladina Bruhin won the second-ever edition of the Big South Fall Doubles Championship as the No. 3 seed in October. The pair picked up three wins in the tournament to claim the title, clinching the championship with an 8-4 win in the final over the No. 5 seed Marina Skegro and Carlota Farres of Charleston Southern. The duo earned automatic entry into the ITA Conference Masters Championships in San Diego by way of their victory, where they reached the round of 16.
SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
- NJIT won the lone meeting between the two teams back in 2017 in Clinton 4-2. This is the first year that NJIT is competing in the Big South in women's tennis.
- The Highlanders are 10-3 this season and have won five of six entering Thursday. NJIT most recently faced No. 54 Columbia on the road on March 8, falling 4-0.
- Head coach Patricia Piorkowski McDonald is in her 4th season at the helm for NJIT.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
- Presbyterian has won all four previous meetings with NC Central. The Blue Hose have outscored the Eagles 36-2 all-time. The two last faced off in 2019.
- NC Central is 3-6 to begin its spring campaign. The Eagles defeated George Mason in Hilton Head in the team's last outing on March 10 by a 6-1 score.
- Head coach Sofia Rachi Cucalon is in her third season as the leader of the NC Central women's tennis program.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
- UNC Greensboro took the only prior meeting with Presbyterian 6-1 in 2023 in North Carolina.
- The Spartans hold a 1-12 record to start the season. UNCG picked up its first win of the year against Converse on March 1 but has dropped three straight since then.
- Mat Iandolo is in year two as the head coach of UNC Greensboro women's tennis.
UP NEXT
PC will take on Charleston Southern in Big South play at home next Wednesday (March 25) at 1:00 p.m.
