ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TENNIS ASSOCIATION

The #1 seeded Hawks dominated the #3 seed College of Staten Island with a score of 5-1 to take their 13th consecutive CUNYAC/Hospital for Special Surgery Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens. Since the tournament started 27 years ago in 1985, the Hawks have won the title 20 of those years.
 
The day started out with doubles, and MVP junior captain Jane Selegean and junior Shena Jospeh were outstanding at first doubles, overpowering CSI's Ilona Stoyko and Jean Baak 8-2, to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. 


(Shena Joseph: Poses with team mates [top row, 4th from left to right] )

The Dolphins then charged back at second doubles, where the tandem team of sophomores Beth Chapnick and Caroline Kaleda fell to Sabrina Bragerton-Nasert and 2012 CUNYAC Rookie of the Year Mediha Mulla 8-0, tying up the score 1-1. The Hawks third doubles team of freshman Angelina Usherenko and sophomore Stephanie Ahwireng then dismantled Jessica Barabatko and Jackie Jamaleddine 8-2 to give the Hawks a comfortable 2-1 going into singles play.
 
Selegean, proving her worth as tournament MVP, dominated Bragerton-Nasert at first singles 6-3, 6-2, making the score 3-1. With all the other matches being watched closely, the Hawks only needed two more wins to get the title. Joseph then finished her second singles match besting Stoyko 6-2, 6-4, and a few minutes later Usherenko clinched the match for Hunter at 6th singles, beating Nataliya Zitser 6-1, 6-0.
 
When the match was called, Ahwireng had won the first set 6-4 at 5th singles against Mulla and was down 0-2 in the second set while sophomore Gina Yeo had also won the first set in her 3rd singles match against Baak and was down 1-2 in the second. Kaleda had lost the first set in her 4th singles match but was tied 2-2 in the second.
 
“It's amazing to be a part of such a great tennis program,” said first year head coach Frances Ferdinand. “The ladies have been amazing this season and have worked really hard to get where we are. I am so proud of them and am excited for the NCAA's in the spring.”
 
The Hawks finish the season as Regular Season Champions with a record of 12-3, 7-1 CUNYAC.  With the win, the Hawks get an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament in May 2013.  Last year, Hunter won the first round against Penn-State Behrend 5-3, but lost in the second to the #5 seed John Hopkins.