GRANVILLE, Ohio – Finishing the regular season at 7-3 overall, Denison women's tennis has received an at-large bid to the 2021 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament. The Big Red will open competition in the second round on Saturday, May 15 in Lexington, Virginia at Washington and Lee University. Denison will play York College (Pa.) at 10 a.m.
This will be Denison's 13
th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and they first since 2016 when the Big Red defeated Concordia (Wis.), 5-0, to reach the second round of the tourney. Denison currently boasts an NCAA Tournament record of 19-12 with their best showing coming in 2008 when they defeated Emory, 5-2, to reach the Final Four.
Earning one of only five at-large bids to this year's national tournament, the Big Red enter this year's NCAA Tournament as the 24
th-ranked team in the country and third-best team in the NCAA Division III Central Region. The Big Red are currently led by the senior duo of
Alex Cash and
Hannah Cianciola. In nine top-flight doubles matches this season, Cash and
Hannah Cianciola are 7-2 overall, including a 3-2 mark against NCAC East competition. Cash and
Hannah Cianciola have also combined to go 9-6 on singles courts in 2021, highlighted by a 3-0 showing from Cash in No. 1 singles.
Sophomore
Sydney Cianciola has led the way for DU in top-flight singles thanks to a 4-3 record while also going 2-1 in divisional play.
Sydney Cianciola and
Sarah Robertson have become Denison's every-day second-flight combo as the pair has posted a regular-season record of 6-1 and 2-1 against the NCAC East. The Big Red enter the national tournament with five players winning at least five singles matches throughout the 2021 season. Sophomore
Monique Brual leads the team with a 7-2 singles record while
Devin Gramley follows in second at 6-3. The duo has also primarily teamed up in No. 3 doubles this season, posting an overall record of 5-2.
For York, the Spartans currently sport a 11-1 record following a 5-1 victory over Penn State Behrend in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday. Elsa Oestermarker currently leads the Spartans as their go-to top-flight option thanks to an overall singles record of 9-2. Lauren Ostermann and Brianna Rohrer have also posted matching singles records of 8-2. Oestermarker and Ostermann are the top option in doubles play for York as they sport a 10-1 record in the top flight.
The winner of Denison and York (Pa.) will advance to the third round on Sunday, May 16 where they will play the winner of Washington and Lee and either The College of New Jersey or Franciscan at 12 p.m.
