The Drury women's tennis Panthers are headed back to the NCAA-II Sweet 16 for the fourth straight year after defeating Rockhurst 5-1 in the Midwest Regional second round Saturday at the Cooper Tennis Complex.
The Panthers (22-4) will now move on to Altamonte Springs, Fla., for the NCAA-II Championships next Wednesday through Saturday. The opponent is to be determined, since the NCAA has yet to release a complete D-II national bracket.
Drury grabbed a 2-1 lead with victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, then left no doubt by grabbing one-set leads in all six singles matches. Freshman Katia Bon at No. 1, senior Chandra Capozzi at No. 2 and freshman Anna Lustig at No. 5 finished their matches first to grab the needed three singles points for the victory.
Lustig had lost to RU's Rachel Lanaghen 6-2, 6-3 when they met two weeks ago in Drury's Great Lakes Valley Conference championship victory over the Hawks, but reversed that with a 6-0, 6-2 thrashing of Lananghent this time.
Rockhurst finished 18-12, including three losses to the Panthers.
Drury, ranked 26th nationally, is in the NCAA-II Tournament for the eighth consecutive season. Its best finish was an Elite Eight appearance in 2006, coach Jarrod Smith's first season with the Panthers. Drury is now 4-for-4 in trips to at least the Sweet 16 under Smith.
Photo Gallery
#26 Drury University 5, #45 Rockhurst University 1
Singles competition
1. Katia Bon (DUWOMEN) def. Kandice Belanger (RU) 6-0, 6-2
2. Chandra Capozzi (DUWOMEN) def. Caitlin Buckley (RU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Khrystsina Tryboi (DUWOMEN) vs. Hannah Lazenby (RU) 7-5, 2-3, unfinished
4. Alba Passanisi (DUWOMEN) vs. Erin Bales (RU) 6-2, 5-0, unfinished
5. Anna Lustig (DUWOMEN) def. Rachel Lanaghen (RU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Lindsey Castrodale (DUWOMEN) vs. Mary Lanaghen (RU) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Katia Bon/Chandra Capozzi (DUWOMEN) def. Caitlin Buckley/Hannah Lazenby (RU) 8-1
2. Khrystsina Tryboi/Alba Passanisi (DUWOMEN) def. Erin Bales/Rachel Lanaghen (RU) 8-1
3. Kandice Belanger/Mary Lanaghen (RU) def. Anna Lustig/Lindsey Castrodale (DUWOMEN) 8-3
Match Notes:
Rockhurst University 18-12; National ranking #45; Regional ranking #6
Drury University 22-4; National ranking #26; Regional ranking #2