GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah women's tennis team begins play in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament this afternoon with a match against the Stevenson Mustangs in the Quarterfinals of the Tournament. The Falcons wrapped up the regular season with an overall record of 3-6 and a conference mark of 2-4, earning the fifth-seed in the Tournament. Messiah did end the regular season on a high note, claiming their final two matches with victories over Hood and Eastern by 8-1 scores.
 
Messiah and fourth-seeded Stevenson will take the court at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon at Stevenson with the winner advancing to play the top-seeded York Spartans in the MAC Commonwealth Semifinals on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
 
See below for a quick preview of the MAC Commonwealth Quarterfinals against Stevenson:
 
No. 5 Messiah University Falcons – 3-6 overall, 2-4 conference
Schedule  |  Roster  |  Stats
 
With just one senior on the roster and all four freshmen serving as mainstays in the Falcons line-up, Messiah is a young team. The Falcons got better as the season progressed, winning their final two matches of the regular season by identical 8-1 final scores over Hood and Eastern. Messiah also claimed a 5-4 non-conference victory over the Lycoming Warriors on Apr. 1 to account for their lone victory out of the MAC Commonwealth.
 
While Messiah is a young team, they have leaned on their senior, Rebekah Adams, for leadership and stability in the line-up this year. Playing primarily in the No. 2 singles spot, Adams is 4-4 in singles play this season with a 3-2 mark in conference. Hannah Olson is the only other Falcon with multiple wins in singles play this season, going 2-3 on the season with a victory on court four and one on court six.
 
Rachel Marcroft and Rebekah Sheaffer have teamed up for the best doubles record for the Falcons with a 4-4 mark at No. 2 doubles. They hold a 3-2 record against conference teams in doubles play this year.
 
No. 4 Stevenson University Mustangs – 3-6 overall, 3-3 conference
Schedule  |  Roster  |  Stats
 
Stevenson has earned the No. 4 seed in the MAC Commonwealth Championship. The Mustangs are coming off a narrow 5-4 defeat at the hands of Alvernia on Saturday. A win would have moved Stevenson up to No. 3 and slide the Golden Wolves down to the No. 4 slot.
 
Sophomore Torrienne Emery has posted a 3-3 record at No. 1 singles for the Mustangs while junior Jacquelyn Nesbeth is 4-4 in singles play. Emery and senior Megan Waskiewicz are 3-3 at No. 1 doubles. Stevenson swept doubles in Saturday's match and owns a 12-14 record in doubles action on the season.
 
When They Met
Messiah and Stevenson squared off one other time this season with the Mustangs earning a 6-3 victory over Messiah in Owings Mills on Apr. 17. Stevenson took a 2-1 lead after doubles play with the team of Rachel Marcroft and Rebekah Sheaffer winning No. 2 doubles 8-7 (4) to pick up the point for the Falcons. In singles play, Rebekah Adams won court two with a 6-0, 6-3 victory and Hannah Kapchinske claimed court six (6-2, 6-3), but Stevenson picked up the other four courts to earn the victory.
 
Tournament History
The Falcons are the reigning MAC Commonwealth Champions after claiming the Conference Title in 2019, the last year it was contested. Messiah has claimed three of the last four Conference Championships, winning the title in 2016, 2017, and 2019. The Falcons also finished as the runner-up to Lebanon Valley in 2018, making four-straight trips to the Conference Championship Match.
 

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