A Quick Look
They say that the third time is a charm, but in the case of the SUNY Oneonta women's tennis team, it took just one more year to finally capture its first SUNYAC title.  The dramatic 5-4 victory over three-time reigning conference champion New Paltz puts Oneonta (17-6) in the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time.
 
The Inside Story
The doubles portion of the match was closely contested, and the scores indicated that the matches were indeed tight.  The second doubles team of seniors Rebecca Macdonald (Brooklyn/Leon M. Goldstein) and Olivia Fraser (Queensbury/Queensbury) planned an aggressive strategy, and it came to fruition as they stormed ahead with aggressive suffocating net play and flawless ground strokes.  The duo jumped out to a 6-0 lead and cruised to an 8-1 all-important victory.  This doubles victory proved to be critical as the Red Dragons held things close going into singles play down just 1-2.
 
Senior Madeline Carswell (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Central) and junior Maxie Karen (New York, NY/The Clinton School) lost only by a break of serve in the top spot but helped them gain confidence entering singles play.  Sophomores Sophia Schutte (Great Neck/Great Neck) and Julia Holtermann (Staten Island/Curtis) at the number three doubles position were broken twice but their overall quality of play also gave them some confidence after the double's stanza.
 
Needing four-singles wins to clinch its first championship the Red Dragons chipped away at the small lead.  Schutte was overwhelming in her straight set 6-4, 6-2 win avenging her loss from the week prior in a regular season match.  A win from the fifth position came from Karen in what amounted to a lopsided 6-4, 6-0 win as she played with confidence and energetic footwork to cruise to the straight set win.  At the sixth spot, Holtermann was mentally tough staying in the moment and not succumbing to her opponent's distractions and showed patience in clinching the fourth match for the Oneonta squad 6-2, 6-0.  
 
With Oneonta needing just one more match to clinch the championship, Fraser was locked in a three-set battle with her counterpart.  Fraser played her strategy perfectly, but her athletic opponent prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in a very entertaining and emotional match.  The dual match was left up to captain and second singles player Carswell.
 
The Hawks were in grasp of defending their title, but Carswell was stubborn and played big points better than her opponent.  Down a set and break in the second set, Carswell broke serve and came back to gain the second set forcing the third set decider to determine SUNYAC women's tennis supremacy.  Carswell held her nerve and jumped out to a 2-0 lead which was quickly eaten up by her opponent to go even 2-2.  Carswell, serving with break point against, saved the point and served it out to go up 3-2.  Carswell was flawless the rest of the way with focus and poise, as she ran off three-more games converting a championship on her second match point.
 
History was made as her teammates jumped on her to celebrate the moment. 
 
Carswell later said "this goes to prove that collegiate tennis is a team sport and every player on the courts earned at least one-point in singles or doubles to reach the top of the mountain.  My teammates and coaches were there to support me the whole way, I am so grateful".
 
Coach Mitchel could only look on in awe of the great accomplishment these women created from the common goal they set out to cash in at the championships.  "We have been building towards this moment," stated Mitchel.  "I am so proud of this team's effort.  Our players have worked hard and committed themselves to being the best.  We deserve this moment."
 
Oneonta had four individuals and one doubles team named to the All-Tournament Team led by Tournament MVP Madeline Carswell (Bethlehem/Bethlehem Central).  Individuals joining Carswell was junior Maxie Karen (New York, NY/The Clinton School), sophomore Sophia Schutte (Great Neck/Great Neck) and freshman Julia Holtermann (Staten Island/Curtis).  The senior duo of Olivia Fraser (Queensbury/Queensbury) and Rebecca Macdonald (Brooklyn/Leon M. Goldstein) were named at second doubles.
 
What's Next
With the automatic qualifying berth into the NCAA tournament, Oneonta will learn who and when they will play its first-round match on Monday, May 9^th when the NCAA announces its 42 teams that will participate.  The first round, which will be at a pre-determined site, is slated for the weekend of May 13^th.  The championship week is May 23-29 at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla.
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