CALIFORNIA, Pa. – Juniors Katie D'Ambrosia and Jamie Ferrigno won their 20th doubles match of the season, but Mercyhurst came away with a 5-1 win over East Stroudsburg University in the first round of the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Atlantic Regional on Thursday morning in western Pennsylvania.

ESU was competing in the NCAA tournament in women's tennis for the first time in school history and ends its season with a 14-9 record. Mercyhurst advances to play California, the top seed in the region, on Friday. Charleston faces WV State in the other quarterfinal match at California, while Slippery Rock is hosting the other half of the 10-team regional.

D'Ambrosia and Ferrigno posted an 8-6 win over Kim Ezzo and Meghan Raynor at the first doubles spot, improving to 20-6 and reversing an 8-3 loss in the first meeting between the two schools this season, a 7-2 Mercyhurst win on September 19 at Bloomsburg.

The Warriors' top pairing has been named to the All-PSAC team in each of their first three years and takes a stellar 46-21 record into their senior seasons, which featured an 18-4 record at No. 1 doubles this year.

D'Ambrosia (No. 2) and Ferrigno (No. 3) did not have the opportunity to finish their singles play after Mercyhurst earned the match-clinching fifth point. D'Ambrosia was named All-PSAC East in singles as well and was 16-4 at No. 2 (17-6 overall), while Ferrigno went 16-8 overall this year and is 46-18 in her career.

Mercyhurst posted an 8-5 win at No. 2 doubles and an 8-1 victory at No. 3 to take a 2-1 lead into the singles matches. Ezzo won a 6-0, 6-0 decision over sophomore Amanda Kaufman at No. 1 and the Lakers also earned straight-set wins at the No. 5 and No. 6 spots.

Kaufman finished above .500 at No. 1 singles this year, going 12-10 (14-12 overall) to pick up her second straight All-PSAC East honor to go with her PSAC East Freshman of the Year award last season.

Other Warriors who finished the year with winning records were freshmen Alex Santoro (11-10, primarily at No. 4), Amy McGrath (12-9, No. 5/6) and Rabecca Lausch (7-4, No. 6).

In doubles, Kaufman and senior Marissa Tanner had an 8-3 record in dual action at No. 2 and McGrath and Santoro were the most common pairing at No. 3, going 6-3. Kaufman and Santoro played at the No. 2 spot and McGrath and Lausch played No. 3 against Mercyhurst.

The Warriors wrapped up their 14-9 campaign with a winning record at all three doubles and six singles flights, winning 67 percent in doubles and 62 percent in singles.


Mercyhurst 5, East Stroudsburg 1
May 06, 2010 at California, Pa. (Roadman Park)

Singles competition
1. Kim Ezzo (MC-W) def. Amanda Kaufman (ESU-W) 6-0, 6-0
2. Meghan Raynor (MC-W) vs. Katie D'Ambrosia (ESU-W) unfinished
3. Rebecca Haener (MC-W) vs. Jamie Ferrigno (ESU-W) unfinished
4. Kelton Macke (MC-W) vs. Alex Santoro (ESU-W) unfinished
5. Jenna Raynor (MC-W) def. Amy McGrath (ESU-W) 6-0, 6-3
6. Natalie Iovino (MC-W) def. Rabecca Lausch (ESU-W) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Katie D'Ambrosia/Jamie Ferrigno (ESU-W) def. Kim Ezzo/Meghan Raynor (MC-W) 8-6
2. Rebecca Haener/Kelton Macke (MC-W) def. Amanda Kaufman/Alex Santoro (ESU-W) 8-5
3. Jenna Raynor/Natalie Iovino (MC-W) def. Amy McGrath/Rabecca Lausch (ESU-W) 8-1

Match Notes
East Stroudsburg 14-9; Regional ranking #10
Mercyhurst 20-8; Regional ranking #7
First round of NCAA Tournament.
Mercyhurst advances to face host California (Pa.) on May 7 at 2 p.m.