April 27, 2014

Columbia, Md. - The Stony Brook women's tennis team is heading back to the NCAA Tournament after beating NJIT, 4-0, to capture the America East Championship for a third straight year. Junior Polina Movchan (Kiev, Ukraine) was named Most Outstanding Player for the Seawolves (15-3).

Movchan dominated singles play with a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 1 over Ksenia Kuzmenko. Junior Cassandra Dix (Northamptonshire, U.K.) also excelled in her singles match, defeating Natalia Melibeu, 6-1, 6-1.

Dix's victory at No. 5 singles clinch the victory for Stony Brook.

Freshman Nadia Smerugt bested Nathalie Habegger, 6-1, 6-4 at No. 3 singles.

Stony Brook took a 1-0 lead in singles play. The duo of Movchan and Dix won 8-2 at No. 2 doubles.

Smergut teamed with Becky Shtilkind for an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles.

The NCAA will announce the team-championship field of 64 on Tuesday, April 29 at 5:30 on NCAA.com.

No. 1 Stony Brook 4, No. 3 NJIT 0
Doubles
1. Osabuohien/Badoche (SBU) vs. Kuzmenko/Luste (NJIT) 7-2 (DNF)
2. Movchan/Dix (SBU) def. Melibeu/Zanotta (NJIT)8-2
3. Smergut/Shtilkind (SBU) def. Habegger/MacDonald (NJIT) 8-2

Singles
1. Polina Movchan (SBU) def. Ksenia Kuzmenko (NJIT) 6-0, 6-0
2. Jackie AltanSarnai (SBU) vs. Martina Tripcovici (NJIT) 6-1, 4-5 DNF
3. Adey Osabuohien (SBU) vs. Jana Luste (NJIT) 4-6, 5-2 DNF
4. Nadia Smergut (SBU) def. Nathalie Habegger (NJIT) 6-1, 6-4
5. Cassandra Dix (SBU) def. Natalia Melibeu (NJIT) 6-1, 6-1
6. Becky Shtilkind (SBU) vs. Carolina Zanotta (NJIT) 2-6, 4-0