With victories over Columbia and Cornell last weekend, the women's tennis team secured second place in the Ivy League.
Penn rumbled past the Big Red at home 6-1, and followed up on Sunday by edging Columbia 4-3.
The 6-1 finish in the league was the fourth consecutive year in which the Quakers ended up with that mark.
Penn finished 12-5 overall. Its lone blemish was a 5-2 loss to eventual champion Harvard last Friday. It is also the team's fourth consecutive second place finish to Harvard since Penn won the title in 2002.
After defeating Columbia on Sunday, the team was left with a semblance of hope for a title. Harvard stood at 6-0 and still had to play Dartmouth yesterday. However, there was little surprise when Harvard (17-6, 7-0 Ivy) cruised by Dartmouth (5-14, 1-6) 6-1.
The Quakers won the doubles point against Cornell by sweeping all three matches. Sophomores Julia Koulbitskaya and Yulia Rivelis won the first doubles match, 8-2. Freshman Alexis Plukas and senior Raluca Ciochina won second doubles 8-6, and Sophomore Michelle Mitchell and senior Caroline Stanislawski cruised in the third, 8-4.
Penn proceeded to win five of six singles matches, all in two sets. Mitchell won her match by taking a set and a default. Rivelis, Koulbitskaya, Ciochina and Stanislawski also won in singles. Plukas was the only loser on the day.
A victory over Columbia was not nearly as simple. Penn again stormed through the doubles point, taking the three matches 8-6, 8-5, 8-6.
The match almost slipped away as Penn lost its first three singles matches. Rivelis and Mitchell each lost in three sets while Koulbitskaya was swept in two.
Plukas, Ciochina and Stanislawski picked up the slack and won the final three singles matches, all in two sets. It was particularly fitting that seniors Ciochina and Stanislawski put the team on their shoulders in their last regular season match.
However, Penn's season isn't necessarily over. The Quakers have a good shot at making the NCAA Tournament. Similar to it's more famous basketball counterpart, the tennis tournament features 64 teams. Penn will not get the automatic bid for winning its conference but can get an at-large bid.
In the FILA collegiate tennis rankings Penn is currently at No.43 while Harvard is at No.17.
The tournament announcement will take place on May 3rd at about 8:45 p.m. on ESPNNEWS.
