Women's tennis win NEAC West Championship

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CLARKS SUMMIT, PA (April 26, 2012) – The Penn State Berks women's tennis team captured its second title in three years after defeating Penn State Abington and Wells College on Thursday afternoon at the Birchwood Tennis Club. (Penn State Abington Boxscore) (Wells Boxscore)

With the win, the Nittany Lions will face the NEAC East Champion on Saturday, May 5 at the Tri-City Tennis Club in Latham, N.Y. with a trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

Berks opened the day with a 5-2 win over Abington to force a rematch with the Express, who were the only conference team to defeat the Nittany Lions in the regular season. The Nittany Lions won the title in dramatic fashion with a 5-4 thriller.

In the championship bout, Wells took two of the three doubles matches. Samantha Warga and Aimee Hoffman had the Nittany Lions win at No. 3 doubles by a score of 8-5.

In the singles action, Crystal Hitz set the tone with a 6-2, 6-2 victory. Kristina Hatter also cruised to a straight set victory, winning 6-1, 6-1 out of the sixth spot. Elizabeth Kehm's 6-4, 6-3 win in third singles put the team scores in a 4-4 deadlock with just Arion Harris and Caitlyn Copfer left to settle the match.

Harris took the first set by a score 6-4, but Copfer won the second by a score of 7-6 (7-3). In the decisive third set, Harris emerged with a 6-4 victory to give Berks the win.

In the opening round victory over Abington, Berks had to battle back from a 2-1 deficit after the doubles matches. Again, it was Warga and Hoffman who kept the Nittany Lions in contention with an 8-5 win at third doubles.

Kehm won 6-4, 6-1 at No. 4 singles and Amanda Fuller was a 7-5, 6-3 winner at the fifth spot. At second singles, Hoffman won 7-6 (7-2) in the opening set and followed with a 6-4 second set win. Hatter finished sent the Nittany Lions into the championship game with a thrilling three set win. She won the first set 6-3 before falling 6-4 in the second set to Adela Ulitsky. Hatter then clinched the win with a 6-1 victory in the third set.

The Nittany Lions will play in the individual tournament on Friday, April 27 at the Birchwood Tennis Club.

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Players Mentioned

Amanda Fuller: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Arion Harris: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Crystal Hitz: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Aimee Hoffman: 5' 5"; Senior

Sam Warga: 5' 6"; Junior

Elizabeth Kehm: 5' 4"; Freshman

Kristina Hatter: 5' 2"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Amanda Fuller
: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Arion Harris
: 5' 2"; Sophomore

Crystal Hitz
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Aimee Hoffman
: 5' 5"; Senior

Sam Warga
: 5' 6"; Junior

Elizabeth Kehm
: 5' 4"; Freshman

Kristina Hatter
: 5' 2"; Freshman