• Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 16) – The No. 8 Vulcans secured their fifth appearance in the last six years in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Tournament with a 5-2 win against Cameron (Okla.) on Wednesday afternoon at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park.

With the victory, the California University of Pennsylvania tennis team improves to 24-5 overall this season and extends its win streak to 14 matches. Meanwhile, Cameron finishes its winningest season in program history with a 23-5 record.

The Vulcans took an early 2-1 lead on Wednesday after winning two of the three doubles matches. Senior Annabel Pieschl (Gothenburg, Sweden/Katrinelund) and junior Jade Pondicas (Johannesburg, South Africa/British International Distance) opened the match with an 8-1 victory at third doubles over Aggies' Antonia Moberg and Florencia Tornero. Cal U added to its lead at the first position when seniors Martina Rubesova (Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic/Gymnazium Dr. Vaclava Smejkala) and Franziska Steinhardt (Bad Lausick, Germany/St. Augustin Gymnasium), the No. 4 doubles team in the country, collected an 8-4 win against No. 20 Sara Londono and Amanda Moberg. The tandem of Rubesova and Steinhardt has posted a staggering 29 victories in their only season as teammates. At the second slot, senior Anastassiya Zherdeva (Almaty, Kazakhstan/Gumnasia Number 60) and freshman Ramona Czakon (Trier, Germany/Tampereen Lyseon Lukio) suffered an 8-4 loss to Cameron's Julia Puckhaber and Elvira Sholles.

Cal U then clinched the match victory by winning three of the four completed singles matches. Czakon took the team lead with her No. 27 singles victory of the season after opening the session with a 6-1, 6-0 victory against Moberg at the sixth position. Steinhardt added a 6-3, 6-0 win over Tornero at fifth singles before the Pondicas fell 7-5, 6-4 to Sholles at the fourth slot. Pieschl then clinched the match for the Vulcans with a 7-5, 6-2 victory against regionally-ranked Puckhaber.

Cal U returns to action in the quarterfinals tomorrow, Thursday, May 17, when it faces No. 2 and defending-National Champion Barry (Fla.) at 11:30 a.m. (originally set for 9 a.m.). Earlier this season, the Vulcans suffered a 7-2 loss to the Buccaneers during their annual spring trip to Florida.