SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University women's tennis team defeated Lock Haven by a score of 6-1 on Senior Day on Saturday at Robb Sports Complex, marking the first time in five years that the Raiders have won multiple conference matches in the same season.
 
Shippensburg (3-10, 2-3 PSAC East) won five singles matches and the doubles point over Lock Haven (3-8, 1-4). The Bald Eagles had only five players and had to forfeit No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles, which gave the Raiders a 1-0 lead before doubles and singles matches started.
 
At No. 1 doubles, the Dutch pair of senior Jenna Sluymer and sophomore Merel Hoekstra fought their way back from 5-3 down to win the crucial doubles points in the tiebreak, 7-6. At No. 2 doubles, senior Cally Papoutsis and junior Sahar Islam dropped their match, 6-2.  
 
At No. 1 singles, Sluymer had to battle throughout her match and won in straight sets. Fellow senior Kayla Tryanski had to adjust her playing style at No. 3 singles but won in straight sets. At No. 4 singles, Hoekstra stepped up her game in the second set and won 6-4, 6-0. Papoutsis recorded her first collegiate singles win on Senior Day as she came back after losing the first set to win 6-3 in the second set and then 7-6.
 
Before the match, Shippensburg honored its senior class: Papoutsis, Sluymer and Tryanski.
 
"I am so proud of how the women have been playing, they have really showed that Ship Tennis has a potential to be a competitive team," said coach Pearllan Cipriano. "I am extra thankful for these seniors and their leadership on and off the court."
 
It is the first time that Shippensburg has won multiple conference matches in a season since 2017 (wins over Kutztown and East Stroudsburg).
 
The Raiders will have their regular-season home finale at 3 p.m. Tuesday against Millersville at Robb Sports Complex.