The Navy women’s tennis team (7-7) is set to continue its seven-match homestand with a Friday matinee and Saturday doubleheader. This weekend, the Midshipmen will face Long Beach State (5-2), Georgetown (5-4), and Morgan State (0-3) at the Tose Family Tennis Center, aiming to extend their two-match winning streak.
On Friday at 1 p.m., Navy will host Long Beach State, which is on an East Coast swing. On Saturday, the Midshipmen will first play Georgetown at 10 a.m. before facing Morgan State at 2 p.m. later that day.
Last Time Out
Navy responded well after a 7-0 loss to Wake Forest by securing two impressive wins last Saturday. The Midshipmen defeated Towson 5-2 and swept George Mason 7-0. In the loss to Wake Forest, despite no team points, Navy’s top doubles pairing of senior Emily Tannenbaum and sophomore Olivia Fermo had a 5-3 lead when play was halted. Against Towson, Navy swept doubles and saw victories from senior Parvathi Shanker, freshmen Molly Bellia and Grace Li, and sophomore Manci Pal. Senior Sylvia Eklund and rookie Emma Gu came close but fell in third-set battles. Against George Mason, the Midshipmen swept doubles once again, and straight-set wins came from Li, senior Kate Lee, Gu, Fermo, and rookies Peyton Amspacher-Philemon and Ji Soo Oh.
Puryear Reaches Career Milestone
Head coach Keith Puryear reached the 300-win milestone with the doubleheader sweep. Over his 17-year tenure, Puryear has amassed a 305-108 (.739) record at Navy. In total, his career record stands at 520-236 across his coaching career at UMBC and Navy. His 513 wins rank 20th among Division I women’s tennis coaches of all-time and 10th among active Division I coaches.
Mids in the National Rankings
At the end of the fall season, Navy’s singles and doubles teams earned national recognition. Senior Emily Tannenbaum was ranked No. 87 in singles, while two doubles teams made the rankings. Tannenbaum and senior Parvathi Shanker were ranked 51st, and Tannenbaum with sophomore Olivia Fermo were ranked 104th. Tannenbaum held the No. 92 singles ranking in the latest spring update on February 20.
Tannenbaum’s Record-Breaking Achievements
Tannenbaum continues to rewrite Navy’s record book. She holds seven school records, including career singles, doubles, and combined wins. Last spring, she set program records for single-season singles wins (33) and career No. 1 singles victories (37). She also recorded 18 victories at No. 1 singles and 55 combined wins during the season.
Scouting Long Beach State
Long Beach State arrives on the East Coast with a 5-2 record after a 4-1 win over Georgetown on Thursday. The Beach has won four straight matches, including a 4-3 victory over Loyola Marymount. No. 1 player Dania De Simone leads the team with a 17-5 singles record, including a 5-2 mark this spring. The doubles duo of Cecilia Costa and Johanna Hiesmair is 7-3, with a 5-2 record at the No. 1 spot. Head coach Jenny Hilt-Costello, in her 28th and final year, boasts a 417-198 overall record.
Scouting Georgetown
Georgetown enters the weekend with a 5-4 record, most recently losing to Long Beach State. The Hoyas, 3-2 in BIG EAST play, are coming off a 4-2 win over Seton Hall. Emily Novikov, the BIG EAST Women’s Singles Player of the Week, leads the team. Last season, Georgetown finished 8-13, with Novikov earning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors.
Scouting Morgan State
Morgan State has struggled this spring, with an 0-3 record against tough competition. The Bears, picked fifth in the MEAC preseason coaches poll, are 6-15 overall last year and advanced to the MEAC semifinals. This season, they are hoping for a stronger showing after a 3-3 conference finish last year.
Series History
Friday marks the first meeting between Navy and Long Beach State. The Mids have a strong record against Georgetown, holding a 7-3 advantage in the series and a perfect 7-1 record at home. Navy also leads Morgan State 10-0, with all matches taking place in Annapolis.
Up Next
After this weekend’s action, Navy will face Florida State next Saturday at 10 a.m. in Annapolis.
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