October 24, 2015
Oxford Emory captures second national championship
Hayley Keats and Kelsey Sattler led the Eagles to the program's first NJCAA title since 2011
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | COMPLETE RESULTS
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. --- For the first time since 2011, the Oxford College at Emory University (Ga.) won the NJCAA Division III Women’s Tennis National Championship on Saturday afternoon at the Peachtree City Tennis Center in Peachtree City, Ga.
The victory marks just the second time in school-history that the Eagles have finished atop the overall team standings as they accumulated 35.5 points. Fashion Institute of Technology (N.Y.) and Suffolk County Community College (N.Y.) each followed tallying 28 and 24 points, respectively.
Oxford Emory powered its way to victory by sweeping doubles and capturing the top four flights in singles without surrendering a set the entire tournament.
In singles action, No. 1-seed Hayley Keats of Oxford Emory defeated Rockland’s Elina Arakelyan 6-1, 6-1 in flight one. Sarah Bailey and Lianne Anderson also each secured 6-1, 6-1 victories for the Eagles as they featured in flight three and four, respectively, while teammate Kelsey Sattler posted a 6-2, 6-2 straight-set win in the second flight.
In singles action, No. 1-seed Hayley Keats of Oxford Emory defeated Rockland’s Elina Arakelyan 6-1, 6-1 in flight one. Sarah Bailey and Lianne Anderson also each secured 6-1, 6-1 victories for the Eagles as they featured in flight three and four, respectively, while teammate Kelsey Sattler posted a 6-2, 6-2 straight-set win in the second flight.
FIT meanwhile locked up victories in the final two matches as Maia Sepulveda recorded a 6-1, 6-1 tally in the sixth flight, with Kiana Brooks knocking off top-seeded Nathalie Rivera 6-2, 6-2 at number five.
In doubles play, the Eagles overwhelmed the opposition claiming each match in straight sets. The tandem of Florence Chow and Linda Lee completed the sweep for Oxford Emory holding off FIT’s Sepulveda and Rachel Edwards in the third flight, 6-2, 6-3.
As a result of his guidance for the overall victory, the Eagles’ Rob Hardin was named the Coach of the Tournament with Pernilla Hardin earning the Spirit of Competition award.