FORT MYERS, Fla. - For the first time since the 1989 season, the Stetson University women's tennis team has claimed the ASUN Conference title as the Hatters defeated the Liberty Flames in the 2022 ASUN Championship final at FGCU Tennis Complex on Sunday. The Hatters pulled out the crucial doubles point to start the day and then earned wins on Courts 3 and 4 before Championship MVP Noa Cohen clinched the title for her team with a victory on Court 5.

Stetson improved to 22-2 with the win, its school-record tying ninth straight (done twice before, 1994, 2014) and is just a victory shy of equaling the most ever for a team in a single season in ASUN history, as ETSU had 23 during 2006. The Hatters won their fourth ASUN championship (1986, 1987, 1989) with today's effort, but its their first in the dual match format. Stetson had made finals appearances in 2005, 2006, 2009, 2014 and 2018 before breaking through with this year's finals victory.

"What a season! This team is something else," Stetson head women's tennis coach Travis Sandlant said. "The adversity, the hard work and the belief that they have with one another was elite this year. We are a young team, but they showed great maturity. It's a sweet win and they deserve to enjoy this history-making season. Go Hatters!"

Cheri Darley and Nadejda Maslova picked up the first win in doubles on Court 2 (6-3), their sixth straight and 15th overall as a pair. Alanna DiFrancesco and Elodie Foster then won the point for Stetson with a hard-fought 6-4 win on Court 1 to pick up their 12th win together.

Darley (21-1) continued her unremarkable roll by winning her 18th straight singles match (6-0, 6-4) at flight 3, just before DiFrancesco won her team-best 22nd match of the year (7-6 (7-4), 6-0) at flight 4, to put the Hatters up 3-0.

Liberty (19-8) then pulled out straight set wins on Court 6 and 1 to pull the Flames to within 3-2 and, on Court 2, Kalani Soli won her second set to force a third with Anais Gabriel.

It was Cohen, for the second straight day, that ended the match with her victory (6-2, 6-3) as she improved to 21-1 overall as well.

Cohen and Darley were both named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team for their efforts.

Stetson's historic season - most wins ever in a season, best winning percentage in a season, longest win streak (tied) - will continue with its first ever berth in the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship. The Hatters had twice made the DII tournament (1983, 1984). Championship information will be revealed at a later date.
 

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About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS (PDF).

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