Greyhounds to Face Scranton in 2026 Landmark Conference Championship Match on May 2
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The second seeded Moravian University women’s tennis squad is set to play top seed The University of Scranton on Sunday, May 2 in the 2026 Landmark Conference Tournament Championship match beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The second seeded Moravian University women's tennis squad is set to play top seed The University of Scranton on Sunday, May 2 in the 2026 Landmark Conference Tournament Championship match beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport.
The Greyhounds enter the contest with a 16-3 record this spring including an 8-1 mark in Landmark Conference action under the guidance of fifth-year Director of Tennis Mariana Freitas. Moravian is in the postseason for the ninth consecutive year. The Hounds, who have won five Landmark Conference titles and a total of 13 conference championships in program history, fell to the Royals, 5-2 in Scranton back on April 15.
Moravian is making its seventh straight appearance in the Landmark Conference Championship match and is looking for its first title since 2021. The Hounds advanced to the title match with a 4-3 victory versus third seed The Catholic University of America at Lehigh University's Lewis Indoor Tennis Center Thursday evening.
Freshman Kaelyn Balko, who had the clinching point to send the Blue & Grey to the championship match, has a 17-1 record in singles action to lead the Greyhounds while junior Sydney Shifman is 16-3 on the year. Senior Izzy Szmodis has a 13-6 mark while freshman Natalia Smith is 11-5. Junior Leah Zolotareva has a 10-6 record while freshman Fraukje van Baars is 6-2 on the season. Sophomore Jenna Gower is 5-4 in singles while freshman Madi Schottman has a 5-5 mark.
Szmodis and Zolotareva have combined for a 17-7 doubles record with Szmodis breaking the career doubles victory mark, now with 65. Shifman and Smith have teamed up for an 11-4 mark while Gower and van Baars have a 6-2 slate. Balko is 20-5 with multiple partners including an 8-3 slate with Gower and a 4-1 mark with Smith. Gower and Shifman are 1-2 on the season. Schottman and Shifman have a 1-1 record.
Scranton defeated fourth seed Drew University, 4-1, in the Semifinals on Thursday.
The winning team on Saturday will receive the conference's automatic berth to the 2026 NCAA Division III Tournament.
