May 2, 2026
Greyhounds Win 2026 Landmark Conference Championship to Earn NCAA Division III Tournament Berth
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. --- The second seeded Moravian University women’s tennis squad outlasted top seed The University of Scranton, 4-3, at the Central Pennsylvania Tennis Center Saturday afternoon to capture the 2026 Landmark Conference Championship and an automatic berth to the 2026 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. --- The second seeded Moravian University women's tennis squad outlasted top seed The University of Scranton, 4-3, at the Central Pennsylvania Tennis Center Saturday afternoon to capture the 2026 Landmark Conference Championship and an automatic berth to the 2026 NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament.
How It Happened
- The Greyhounds captured doubles point and a 1-0 advantage with wins at second and third doubles. Junior Sydney Shifman and freshman Natalia Smith began the match with a 6-2 victory at second doubles while sophomore Jenna Gower and freshman Kaelyn Balko added a 6-1 triumph at third doubles to give the Blue & Grey the lead
- Balko pushed the advantage to 2-0 with a 6-0, 6-1 win at fifth singles while Smith made it 3-0 after a 6-1, 6-2 triumph at third singles. The Royals captured straight sets wins at first and second singles and a three-set victory at sixth singles to tie the match at 3-3. The contest came down to fourth singles in a match that took over three hours to play with Shifman clinching the championship with a 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 victory
- Shifman was selected as the Most Outstanding Player of the 2026 Landmark Conference Tournament after winning her singles match that was on the courts for 3:11
Landmark Conference Championship History
- The Greyhounds earned their sixth Landmark Conference Championship since the conference began during the 2007-08 season. 2026 marks the first time that Moravian has won the conference title while not the top seed in the tournament. The Blue & Grey were the top seed in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2019 and 2021
- Moravian and Scranton have faced off six times for the Landmark Conference title with the Hounds winning five times. The only loss came last year in 2025
- The Hounds advance to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the fifth time, and the program picked up NCAA Tournament First Round wins in 2019 and 2021 as Moravian is 2-4 all-time in NCAA Tournament play
- The NCAA Selection Show for women's tennis is scheduled for Monday, May 4 at 12:00 p.m. on NCAA.com
Up Next for the Greyhounds
- Thursday, May 7 or Friday, May 8 vs. To Be Announced in NCAA Division III Tournament First Round at site to be announced
