WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (September 28, 2019) – The FDU women's tennis team pushed one doubles team and three individuals into the semifinals of the Middle Atlantic Conference Individual Championships Saturday.

The two-day event resumes tomorrow at 9 a.m.

FDU saw its No. 1 doubles pairing of senior Mia Capozzoli and junior Nicole DelRosso advanced to the quarterfinals, after winning their opening round match. The duo earned an 8-2 triumph over their opponents from Eastern to move on. Capozzoli and DelRosso were bested in the next round 8-0 by Stevens, who was seeded No. 2.

In the second flight, senior Christine Kenny and junior Kira Bradley also won their opening round match, knocking off their foes from Messiah 8-2. They were topped in the quarters 8-1 by No. 4 seed Lebanon Valley. After earning a bye at the No. 4 flight, senior Logan Squires and junior Brooke Dorsey fell 8-4 in the second round.

The only duo to advance to Sunday was rookie Kayla Dello Iacono and sophomore Erin Weller. Playing at the No. 3 flight, they cruised into the quarterfinals with an 8-0 triumph over their foes from King's. The two kept up the winning ways, punching their ticket to the semifinals with an 8-6 upset win over the No. 4 seed from Lebanon Valley.

In singles action, DelRosso moved through to the second round thanks to a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Lauren Good of Eastern. Facing the No. 1 seed in her flight, the junior was topped 6-2, 6-0 in her second match of the day. Kenny met Skylar Wright of Hood in the opening round at the No. 2 flight, but fell 6-3, 7-5.

After earning the No. 3 seed at the third flight, Dello Iacono moved into the second round courtesy of a 6-1, 6-1 decision over Madison Poladian of Lebanon Valley. The rookie was the first to advance to the semifinal round as she picked up a 6-1, 6-2 win over unseeded Nina Bretz of Stevenson. In the semis tomorrow, she will square off with No. 2 seed Dasha Yakhnis of Wilkes.

Bradley and Capozzoli were also seeded, gaining the No. 2 and No. 3 seed in their respective flights. Capozzoli made quick work of her opponent, winning 6-0, 6-0 to move into the next round. In the match of the day for the Devils, the senior Capozzoli rallied from a set down to qualify for the semifinals. After falling 6-3 in the opening frame, she battled back with a 6-1 triumph to force a third and deciding set. Capozzoli fought to earn a 10-8 win and move on to face No. 2 seeded Makenna Sargis in the semifinals at the No. 5 flight.

Bradley earned a bye into the quarters and joined Dello Iacono and Capozzoli in the third round as she posted a 6-1, 6-2 triumph. She will face unseeded Isabella Calandra of Stevens tomorrow. Weller, who entered unseeded at No. 6 singles, moved into the second round thanks to a 6-0, 6-1 victory. She was topped by No. 1 seed Rachel Thomas of Wilkes 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinal round. Dorsey had a tough draw in the opening round, losing 6-1, 6-1 to Sarah Malone of Wilkes.

FROM THE COURT
"We all had game plans coming into this tournament, and I'm glad we stuck with them," explained Head Coach Tom Battaglia. "The conference has definitely gotten stronger and to put a doubles team and three singles players into the semifinals is a great accomplishment. We are excited for tomorrow."