FROM IUP ATHLETICS:
TENNIS
BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – Enduring a weather delay, location change and a quality opponent, the IUP women’s tennis program took care of business with a 4-2 win against Slippery Rock on Saturday, claiming the 2024 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship.
The win marked the fourth straight conference title for IUP since 2021. It was also the third straight conference championship against Slippery Rock since 2022.
Overall, IUP has won six of the last seven PSAC titles.
The win clinches an automatic bid to the Division II NCAA Championship, which begins with regionals from May 10-11. IUP has virtually guaranteed a home match during the opening round of the Atlantic Region Tournament, listed second in the latest regional rankings at the conclusion of the regular season.
IUP posts its 10th straight win and second against Slippery Rock this season. The 5-2 win against Slippery Rock back on April 1 at Maple Street Courts kickstarted IUP’s winning streak.
“I’m so proud to be part of this outstanding team,” IUP first year head coach Andrew McGlashen said. “Throughout the semester we talked a lot about controlling what we could control and leaving the things we couldn’t control at the door. That’s exactly what we did today, persevering for the victory.”
The match was stopped midway through singles play and moved inside to the Central PA Tennis Center following a rain delay. IUP claimed two of the three doubles flights, taking an early 1-0 lead in the matchup.
Ming Deewajee and Dani Ramos continued their outstanding season with a 6-1 win at No. 1 doubles. Katy Graydon and Lydia Vlachou secured the doubles point for IUP as the veteran duo claimed a 6-4 victory at No. 2 doubles.
The win marked the 150th of Graydon’s career. Vlachou, who was named PSAC Tournament MVP, won the No. 4 singles flight for the Crimson Hawks with a 7-6, 6-2 win against Nicole Kempton.
Ramos held on for a 6-4, 6-4 win at the No. 3 flight before Graydon clinched the match at No. 2 singles behind a 7-5, 6-4 triumph.
Up Next
The NCAA DII Women’s Tennis Selection Show will be revealed on Monday, May 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET online at NCAA.com.
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPathletics.com and follow IUP women’s tennis on X (Twitter) @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPtennis.
TRACK & FIELD
Highlighted by a pair of All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) awards, the IUP outdoor track & field teams added more solid performances on the second day of the league’s outdoor championships from Shippensburg.
As a team, IUP is fifth in the men’s standings and ninth in the women’s standings following day two.
Dan Gibney paced a strong effort in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase for the Hawks, notching a runner-up mark of 9:22.53 for All-PSAC honors and eight points in the team standings. Gibney picked up his second All-PSAC honor in the steeplechase on Saturday, finishing second in consecutive seasons.
Nataiah Robertson earned All-PSAC honors in her first collegiate outdoor championships, recording third in the women’s long jump (5.65m).
Elsewhere in the 3,000m steeplechase, Gwyn Keith posted sixth overall (11:47.35; 3 pts). Joel Beckwith (9:39.65; 3 pts) and Nate Kuntz (9:41.94; 2 pts) also scored for the IUP men in the 3,000m steeple.
Renee Simmonds closed out the heptathlon in eighth overall, scoring for IUP in the event. Posting 4,064 points in the event, Simmonds competed in the long jump, javelin and 800m on Saturday to finish out the heptathlon.
IUP had multiple student-athletes qualify for Sunday’s finals in multiple track races. Cassidy Kline notched second in the women’s 400 hurdles (1:03.67) and Justin Egizio was second in the men’s 400m (48.77).
Egizio was eighth in the men’s 200m, just missing out on qualification to the finals after East Stroudsburg’s Tyler Boone won his heat. Bryna Kelly and Cahsia Page advanced to the finals on Sunday in the 100 hurdles and 400m behind marks of 15.10 (4th) and 58.90 (8th), respectively.
IUP’s 4×100 relay group of Demitrius Carter, Nolan Dunnum, Zachariah Debose and Seth Stouffer qualified for the finals with a sixth-place mark of 43.75.
Up Next
IUP finishes out the 2024 PSAC Outdoor Championships on Sunday, May 5.
Follow
For up-to-date information, visit IUPathletics.com and follow IUP track & field on X (Twitter) @IUPTrackXC.
IUP Composite Meet Results | PSAC Outdoor Championships (Day Two)
Women’s Heptathlon – Long Jump
12. Renee Simmonds (4.64m)
Women’s Heptathlon – Javelin
11. Renee Simmonds (23.94)
Women’s Heptathlon – 800m
9. Renee Simmonds (2:40.26)
Women’s Heptathlon – Overall
8. Renee Simmonds (4064; 1 pt)
Women’s Long Jump – Finals
3. Nataiah Robertson (5.65m; 6 pts) (All-PSAC)
Men’s High Jump
T11. Adam Wood (1.85m)
Women’s 4×100 Relay (Prelims)
11. IUP – Sterlene Scott, Isabella Sadler, Anna Kadlubek, Emma Laughlin (51.01)
Men’s 4×100 Relay (Prelims)
6. IUP – Demitrius Carter, Nolan Dunnum, Zachariah Debose, Seth Stouffer (43.75 – Q)
Women’s 100H
4. Bryna Kelly (15.10 – Q)
11. Cassidy Kline (15.36)
Men’s 110H (Prelims)
13. Zachariah Debose (15.74)
Women’s 400H (Prelims)
2. Cassidy Kline (1:03.67 – Q)
DNS. Bella Brozeski
Men’s 400H (Prelims)
16. Hunter Stuck (59.11)
Men’s 400m (Prelims)
2. Justin Egizio (48.77 – Q)
13. Owen Putt (50.32)
16. Kendall Branan (51.42)
Women’s 400m (Prelims)
8. Cahsia Page (58.90 – Q)
Men’s 800m (Prelims)
11. Gabriel Pacyna (1:57.01)
Men’s 200m (Prelims)
8. Justin Egizio (22.12)
Women’s 3,000 Steeplechase – Finals
6. Gwyn Keith (11:47.35; 3 pts)
11. Stella Kuntz (12:03.45)
11. Julia O’Brien (12:10.36)
Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase – Finals
2. Dan Gibney (9:22.53; 8 pts) (All-PSAC)
6. Joel Beckwith (9:39.65; 3 pts)
7. Nate Kuntz (9:41.94; 2 pts)
https://iupathletics.com/news/2024/5/4/mens-track-field-iup-with-two-all-conference-honors-on-saturday-at-2024-psac-outdoor-championships.aspx
