SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - The No. 39 Slippery Rock University women's tennis team plays three Atlantic Region contenders on the road in the penultimate week of the regular season.
 
THE SCHEDULE
Wednesday: at No. 32 Indiana (Pa.) – 4 p.m.
Saturday: at No. 20 Charleston – Noon
Sunday: at West Virginia Wesleyan – Noon
 
MOTHER NATURE IS UNPREDICTABLE
With the unpredictable spring weather, fans are reminded that any time / location / date changes will be posted on rockathletics.com and all of SRU athletics' official social media accounts as information becomes available.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
In match results for all three matches this week will be provided by the SRU women's tennis program at the below links. Video will also be available for The Rock's Sunday match at West Virginia Wesleyan.
 
MATCH 12 DETAILS
Opponent: Indiana University (Pa.)
Date: Wednesday – 4 p.m.
Location: Maple Street Courts / Indiana, Pennsylvania
Live Results: Link
All-Time Series: IUP leads 47-28
Last Played: May 13, 2025 (SRU won 4-3)
 
SERIES HISTORY
In what has become an annual meeting of the two premiere teams in the Atlantic Region, The Rock and Crimson Hawks seemingly always play close matches including last season in which all three bouts between the two were 4-3 decisions.
 
Slippery Rock and IUP have played three times in each of the last four years (regular season / PSAC Tournament / NCAA Tournament). A year ago, The Rock dropped the regular season and PSAC Tournament matches in the series, but earned the 4-3 NCAA Tournament win.
 
SRU Individual Records vs. IUP
Nicole Kempton (4-2)
2024-25: Dani Ramos (W - 6-7, 7-6, 6-0)
2024-25: Dani Ramos (L - 1-6, 3-6)
2024-25: Dani Ramos (W - 6-2, 6-2)
2023-24: Dani Ramos (W - 6-3, 6-4)
2023-24: Lydia Vlachou (W - 6-3, 6-3)
2023-24: Lydia Vlachou (L - 6-7, 2-6)
 
Amaia Balaguer Brau (5-4)
2025-26: Asel Calbay (L – 4-6, 1-6)
2025-26: Lea Von Kozierowski (L - 4-6, 6-3, 7-10)
2024-25: Lieselotte Hartlöhner (L - 6-3, 1-6, 3-6)
2024-25: Lieselotte Hartlöhner (W - 7-6, 3-6, 6-3)
2024-25: Lieselotte Hartlöhner (W - 3-6, 6-2, 7-6)
2024-25: Dani Ramos (W - 7-5, 6-2)
2023-24: Ming Deewajee (W - 7-5, 4-6, 6-2)
2023-24: Ming Deewajee (W – 6-2, 6-2)
2023-24: Katy Graydon (L - 6-7, 6-1, 0-1 (8-10))
 
Tina Slovak (4-5)
2024-25: Hannah Beitat (W - 6-1, 2-6, 6-4)
2024-25: Hannah Beitat (W - 6-4, 5-7, 6-4)
2024-25: Hannah Beitat (L - 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 1-6)
2024-25: Lieselotte Hartlöhner (L - 4-6, 6-1, 6-10)
2023-24: Veronica Sirci (L -6-7 (4-7), 3-6)
2023-24: Hannah Beitat (W - 7-6, 6-2)
2023-24: Lina Teleshun (W - 6-2, 7-5)
2022-23: Lydia Vlachou (L – 4-6, 5-7)
2022-23: Lydia Vlachou (L – 4-6, 2-6)
 
Alissia Kivi (1-3)
2024-25: Ming Deewajee (L – 3-6, 7-6, 2-6)
2024-25: Ming Deewajee (W - 6-3, 6-4)
2024-25: Ming Deewajee (L – 2-6, 2-6)
2024-25: Dani Ramos (L - 6-3, 4-6, 8-10)
 
Dari Sakhanova (1-9)
2025-26: Charliz Tabili (L - 2-6, 4-6)
2024-25: Asel Calbay (W - 6-3, 6-3)
2024-25: Asel Calbay (L - 6-2, 3-6, 4-6)
2024-25: Asel Calbay (L - 6-7, 4-6)
2023-24: Lydia Vlachou (L – 2-6, 1-6)
2023-24: Dani Ramos (L - 3-6, 1-6)
2023-24: Dani Ramos (L - 4-6, 4-6)
2022-23: Joanna Stralka (L - 6-7, 2-6)
2022-23: Joanna Stralka (L - 7-5, 6-7, 2-6)
2022-23: Joanna Stralka (L - 3-6, 6-3, 1-6)
 
MATCH 13 DETAILS
Opponent: University of Charleston
Date: Saturday – Noon
Location: Schoenbaum Courts / Charleston, West Virginia
Live Results: Link
All-Time Series: UC leads 12-122
Last Played: April 5, 2025 (UC won 4-3)
 
SERIES HISTORY
Much like its series with IUP, Slippery Rock-Charleston matches always play a significant impact inside the Atlantic Region. SRU will be looking to snap a nine-match losing streak to the Golden Eagles, who lead The Rock in the all-time series 12-11. A year ago, Charleston earned a 4-3 win over The Rock at the Glen Creek Tennis Club.
 
SRU Individual Records vs. UC
Amaia Balaguer Brau (5-1)
2024-25: Sofia Krasikova (W - 6-4, 7-5)
2024-25: Riva Hondiashvilli (W - 6-2, 6-2)
2024-25: Sara Martinez (W – 7-5, 6-4)
2023-24: Prinkle Singh (L - 1-6, 3-6)
2023-24: Sofiia Krasikova (W - 6-2, 6-3)
2023-24: Claudia Pastor (W – 6-2, 6-2)
 
Alissia Kivi (2-1)
2025-26: Filippa Larsson (L - 4-6, 6-7)
2024-25: Sofia Krasikova (W - 7-5, 6-4)
2024-25: Filippa Larsson (W - 5-7, 6-2, 15-13)
 
Nicole Kempton (2-4)
2025-26: Sofiia Krasikova (L – 7-5, 7-5)
2025-26: Maria Gomez Yanes (W – 6-4, 7-6)
2024-25: Michelle Connor (W - Michelle Connor)
2024-25: Sara Martinez (L - 6-3, 2-6, 4-10)
2023-24: Michelle Connor (L - 7-5, 6-7, 1-6)
2023-24: Michelle Connor (L - 6-4, 4-6, 10-12)
 
Nadia Rodewald (0-1)
2025-26: Sofiia Krasikova (L – 3-6, 0-6)
 
Tina Slovak (0-4)
2024-25: Filippa Larsson (L - 3-6, 7-5, 5-7)
2023-24: Sara Martinez (L - 2-6, 4-6)
2022-23: Riva Hondiashvilli (L - 2-6, 2-6)
2022-23: Riva Hondiashvilli (L - 3-6, 1-6)
 
Dari Sakhanova (0-4)
2025-26: Sara Martinez (L – 2-6, 3-6)
2024-25: Riva Hondiashvili (L - 1-6, 6-4, 2-6)
2023-24: Filippa Larsson (L - 6-2, 2-6, 3-6)
2022-23: Filippa Larsson (L - 1-6, 6-3, 5-7)
 
MATCH 14 DETAILS
Opponent: West Virginia Wesleyan College
Date: Sunday – Noon
Location: Wood Street Courts / Buchannon, West Virginia
Live Results: Link
Video: Link
All-Time Series: SRU leads 4-2
Last Played: March 21, 2025 (SRU won 7-0)
 
SERIES HISTORY
While Slippery Rock plays IUP and Charleston on annual basis, The Rock and Bobcats have played just once over the last 13 years – a 7-0 SRU home victory a season ago.
 
SRU Individual Records vs. WVW
Nicole Kempton (2-0)
2025-26: Sneha Sundaraneedi (W - 6-1, 6-0)
2024-25: Gabby Dooling (W - 6-2, 6-1)
 
Tina Slovak (2-0)
2024-25: Hailey Banda (W - 6-2, 6-0)
2022-23: Cayley Symons (W - 6-3, 6-3)
 
Amaia Balaguer Brau (1-0)
2024-25: Dominique van Vuuren (W - 6-4, 6-2)
 
Alissia Kivi (1-0)
2024-25: Angelique van Vuren (W - 6-2, 6-2)
 
Dari Sakhanova (1-0)
2024-25: Emilie Bergmann (W - 6-0, 6-1)
 
LAST TIME OUT
• Slippery Rock cruised to a 7-0 shutout of Edinboro April 12 at the SRU Tennis Courts.
• Charleston and Indiana played an Atlantic Region match at IUP with the Crimson Hawks earning a 5-2 win.
• West Virginia Wesleyan grabbed a 7-0 shutout victory of its own at home against West Liberty.
 
A HISTORIC START CONTINUED
After going 2-1 last week Slippery Rock grew its record to 9-2 which is tied the fourth best start to a season in program history. If SRU were to sweep IUP, Charleston and West Virginia Wesleyan it would be 12-2 and have the third best 14-match record into a year in program history.
 
Best Records in Program History (Through 14 Matches)
1. 2001-02: 14-0
2. 2007-08: 13-1
t3. 2011-12: 12-2
t3. 2008-09: 12-2
t3. 2002-03: 12-2
t3. 1994: 12-2
 
ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER WINNING SEASON
The Rock's 7-0 victory over Edinboro assured SRU of finishing the year with a winning season regardless of how the remainder of the year plays out. Slippery Rock has now captured eight straight winning seasons while finishing with a winning percentage of at least .500 in nine consecutive years.
 
ATLANTIC REGION RANKINGS ON DECK
The NCAA DII Women's Tennis Committee will unveil its first set of regional rankings Wednesday. The NCAA regional rankings determine the participants for the NCAA Tournament. The Atlantic Region consists of the PSAC, the Mountain East Conference (MEC), the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and select independent institutions within the region's borders.
 
All three conference tournament champions within the region receive an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament with the next four highest ranked teams in the final regional rankings receiving at-large bids. Updated regional rankings will be released every Wednesday until the conclusion of the season. The official release of the 48-team field for the 2026 NCAA Tournament will be announced 8:30 p.m. May 4 on NCAA.com.
 
Slippery Rock, IUP, Charleston and West Virginia Wesleyan all figure to be in the first set of regional rankings with the results from The Rock's upcoming matches likely to have a great impact on the April 22nd rankings.
 
No stranger to the postseason, Slippery Rock has qualified for the NCAA Tournament 22 times dating back to the 1995-96 season. More recently, SRU has earned a spot in the national tournament in each of the last seven years the event has been held including a run to the Round of 16 last year.
 
PSAC WEST STANDINGS SNAPSHOT
Slippery Rock enters the week in first place in the PSAC West standings with a 4-0 league record and controlling its own destiny when it comes to potentially capturing its first regular season division title since 2018-19.
 
The Rock are also all but assured of having punched their ticket to the PSAC Tournament (the top four teams in the PSAC West standings at the end of the season qualifies for the conference tournament).
 
PSAC West Standings (League Record As of 4/14)
1. Slippery Rock: 4-0
2. Indiana (Pa.): 3-0
3. California (Pa.): 2-1
4. Edinboro 1-1
5. Clarion 0-2
6. Lock Haven 0-3
7. Seton Hill 0-3
 
BY THE (ITF World Tennis) NUMBERS
The ITF World Tennis Number provides a global rating standard for tennis players using a 40-1 scale, with 40 being a beginner player and 1 being an elite professional. The scale is for all players, regardless of age, gender, or ability. Below are the top six singles WTN's for athletes on each team in this week's matches.
 
1. Sara Martinez (UC): 19.41
2. Amaia Balaguer Brau (SRU): 20.11
3. Lea von Kozierowski (IUP): 20.54
4. Alissia Kivi (SRU): 20.83
5. Sofiia Krasikova (UC): 21.23
6. Nicole Kempton (SRU): 21.81
7. Michelle Connor (UC): 21.89
8. Dari Sakhanova (SRU): 21.94
9. Maria Moskaltsova (IUP): 22.14
10. Asel Calbay (IUP): 22.18
11. Riva Hondiashvili (UC): 22.38
12. Ifigeneia Kafka (IUP): 22.71
13. Charliz Tabili (IUP): 23.05
14. Dominique Jansen van Vuuren (WVW): 23.37
15. Isabelle Oikawa Torres (IUP): 23.44
16. Nadia Rodewald (SRU): 23.67
17. Tina Slovak (SRU): 23.85
18. Yuko Sakurai (WVW): 23.95
19. Renata Pozzobon (WVW): 24.00
20. Vanessa Mueller (UC): 24.48
21. Sneha Sundaraneedi (WVW): 24.88
22. Viola Hirzberger (UC): 24.94
23. Daria Godlewska (WVW): 25.95
24. Emilie Bergmann (WVW): 27.47
 
ITA NATIONAL RANKINGS CHECK
Teams
No. 20: Charleston
No. 32: IUP
No. 39: Slippery Rock
 
Doubles
No. 12: Sofiia Krasikova / Sara Martinez (UC)
No. 29: Nicole Kempton / Alissia Kivi (SRU)
 
Singles
No. 71: Sara Martinez (UC)
 
CAREER WINS LIST CLIMBERS
Slippery Rock's quartet of Dari Sakhanova, Tina Slovak, Amaia Balaguer Brau and Nicole Kempton all open the week slotted among the best athletes in program history in terms of career victories. All four have over 100 wins (singles+doubles) at SRU and rank in the top 16 in program history for wins.
 
SRU Career Wins List (6-16)
6. Jessica Hilborn (2006-10): 137
7. Dari Sakhanova (2022-Active): 131
8. Lacey Cohen (2016-21): 129
9. Lois Page (2018-22): 126
10. Sarah Lynch (2009-12): 116
t11. Lauren Coggins (2010-14): 115
t11. Tina Slovak (2022-Active): 115
13. Janelle Krantz (2009-13): 112
14. Dunja Drmac (2009-12): 111
15. Amaia Balaguer Brau (2023-Active): 109
16. Nicole Kempton (2023-Active): 108
 
MEREDITH TO HIT ANOTHER MILESTONE
Slippery Rock head coach Matt Meredith enters the week on the cusp of moving up another spot on the NCAA Division II career wins ledger.
 
Already the PSAC's all-time winningest women's tennis coach, Meredith has compiled a 402-226 career record and a .640 winning percentage. An eight-time PSAC Coach of the Year, Meredith ranks 13th on the DII career wins list and is the eighth active winningest coach in Division II. He is two wins away from passing David Elliott (1991-13 / Harding) for 12th on the DII career wins list.
 
All-Time Wins by D2 Head Coaches
1. Mike Perez (1990-Active) – Lynn: 732
2. Dave Porter (1984-17) – BYU-Hawai'i: 701
3. Mark Rosewell (1982-Active) - Northwest Missouri - 697
4. Derrick Racine (1995-Active) – West Florida: 646
5. Alan Nagel (1980-Active) – Queens College: 626
6. Walter Shinn (1979-14) – Flagler: 536
7. Bev Buckley (1987-24) – Rollins: 535
8. Mark Bohren (1998-Active) – Azusa Pacific: 478
9. Evan Isaacs (2002-Active) – Columbus State: 477
10. Sheila Snyder (1989-24) – Wayne State: 446
11. Avi Kigel (2009-Active) – Barry: 424
12. David Elliott (1991-13) – Harding: 403
13. Matt Meredith – Slippery Rock: 402
t14. Calhoun Parr (2000-Active) - Erskine: 394
t14. Steve Barsby (1996-Active) – Georgia College: 394
 
Wins by Active Head Coaches
1. Mike Perez – Lynn: 732
2. Mark Rosewell - Northwest Missouri - 697
3. Derrick Racine – West Florida: 646
4. Alan Nagel – Queens College: 626
5. Mark Bohren – Azusa Pacific: 478
6. Evan Isaacs – Columbus State: 477
7. Avi Kigel – Barry: 424
8. Matt Meredith – Slippery Rock: 402
t9. Calhoun Parr (2000-Active) - Erskine: 394
t9. Steve Barsby (1996-Active) – Georgia College: 394
 
 SLIPPERY ROCK PRIMER
• Roster: Link
• Stats: Link
• Overall Record: 9-2
• PSAC West Record: 4-0
• PSAC West Standings: 1st
• Home Record: 2-0
• Away Record: 2-1
• Neutral Site Record: 5-1
• Last 5 Matches: 4-1
• Streak: W1
• Head Coach: Matt Meredith | 28th season (402-226, .640)
 
SCOUTING THE ROCK
• The Rock's outstanding record this season has been spearheaded by a doubles attack that has seen SRU earn the first point in 10 of its 11 matches on the year.
 
• Leading The Rock's doubles contingent are Alissia Kivi and Nicole Kempton – the 29th-ranked doubles team in Division II in the most recent ITA rankings. Kivi and Kempton are 8-3 out of the first flight in dual matches, pushing their overall record to 17-9.
 
• Behind Kivi and Kempton are Amaia Balaguer Brau and Tina Slovak in the second flight. SRU's most experienced collegiate tandem are 13-4 overall and 8-3 when competing in dual matches.
 
• Slippery Rock's first-year pairing of Nadia Rodewald and Dari Sakhanova have been nearly perfect as a team. Not only are they 17-1 overall, Rodewald and Sakhanova also possess a perfect 9-0 record in third-flight competition. They've won nine straight matches.
 
• With five members of the roster already posting double-digit win totals, Slippery Rock's singles play has been nearly as impressive as its showing in doubles action.
 
• Kivi enters the week holding a team-best singles mark of 17-4 including an 8-3 mark out of the second flight.
 
• Balaguer Brau is close behind Kivi at 15-6 overall. She also holds an 8-3 dual match record out of the top flight.
 
• Kempton anchors the middle of The Rock's singles lineup at 14-5 overall and 7-3 from the third flight.
 
• Sakhanova and Rodewald are extremely successful fixtures throughout The Rock's lineup as well. Sakhanova has gone 13-4 overall and 8-1 in dual matches while Rodewald carries a team-best eight-match winning streak that has stretched her record to 13-6 overall and 10-1 in dual matches.
 
• Rounding out The Rock's roster with matching 5-5 records are Slovak and Anna Poranski.
 
IUP PRIMER
• Roster: Link
• Stats: Link
• Overall Record: 13-6
• PSAC West Record: 3-0
• PSAC West Standings: 2nd
• Home Record: 5-3
• Away Record: 6-3
• Neutral Site Record: 2-0
• Last 5 Matches: 5-0
• Streak: W10
• Head Coach: Andrew McGlashen
 
Last 5 Matches
April 12: vs. Charleston (W, 5-2)
April 11: vs. Wilmington (W, 7-0)
April 7: at Lock Haven (W, 7-0)
April 4: at California (W, 7-0)
March 29: vs. Seton Hill (W, 7-0)
 
PROBABLE LINEUP (Last Match Order)
(Record)
Singles
1-Lea von Kozierowski (15-9)
2-Asel Calbay (11-9)
3-Maria Moskaltsova (12-7)
4-Charliz Tabili (13-8)
5-Ifigeneia Kafka (14-6)
6-Hannah Beitat (10-6)
Doubles
1-Moskaltsova / Sterk (9-6)
2-Calbay / Beitat (12-2)
3-Tabili / Torres (15-8)
 
CHARLESTON PRIMER
• Roster: Link
• Stats: Link
• Overall Record: 12-5
• Home Record: 8-0
• Away Record: 4-4
• Neutral Site Record: 0-1
• Last 5 Matches: 4-1
• Streak: L1
• Head Coach: Alec Foote
 
Last 5 Matches
April 12: at IUP (L, 5-2)
April 11: at Fairmont State (W, 6-1)
April 4: vs. West Virginia Wesleyan (W, 6-1)
March 31: vs. Frostburg State (W, 6-1)
March 28: at West Liberty (W, 4-0)
 
PROBABLE LINEUP (Last Match Order)
(Dual Match Record)
Singles
1-Sara Martinez (17-5)
2-Sofiia Krasikova (14-7)
3-Vanessa Mueller (6-14)
4-Michelle Connor (12-8)
5-Riva Hondiashvili (11-4)
6-Viola Hirzberger (7-7)
Doubles
1-Krasikova / Martinez (14-2)
2-Hirzberger / Mueller (1-7)
3-Connor / Hondiashvili (11-2)
 
WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN PRIMER
• Roster: Link
• Stats: Link
• Overall Record: 13-5
• Home Record: 9-1
• Away Record: 4-4
• Neutral Site Record: 0-0
• Last 5 Matches: 3-2
• Streak: W3
• Head Coach: Kyle Hoffman
 
Last 5 Matches
April 12: vs. West Liberty (W, 7-0)
April 10: at Frostburg State (W, 4-3)
April 7: vs. Salem (W, 6-1)
April 4: at Charleston (L, 6-1)
March 31: vs. Fairmont State (L, 5-2)
 
PROBABLE LINEUP (Last Match Order)
(Dual Match Record)
Singles
1-Dominique Jansen van Vuuren (12-9)
2-Daria Godlewska (6-11)
3-Renata Pozzobon (13-7)
4-Yuko Sakurai (13-4)
5-Sneha Sundaraneedi (13-6)
6-Emilie Bergmann (7-6)
Doubles
1-Pozzobon / D. Jansen van Vuuren (12-4)
2-Andrea Martinez Garrido / Bergmann (4-7)
3-Sakurai / Sundaraneedi (16-2)
 
UP NEXT
Slippery Rock closes the regular season when it hosts California (Pa.) on Senior Day 4 p.m. April 22 at the SRU Tennis Courts.
 




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