WEST WINSOR, N.J. – The LIU Brooklyn women's tennis team established their legacy as one of the best teams in program history, as they won their third straight Northeast Conference championship by beating No.2 seed Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-0 Saturday at the Mercer County Tennis Center.
 
The Blackbirds jumped out to an early lead, winning the doubles point for the third time in the tournament. At No. 1 doubles, senior Anna Grigoryan and junior Ana Leonte beat their opponents, 6-3. And in the No. 3 spot, senior Malin Leysen and junior Jennifer Gogova had a 6-4 win over their FDU opponents, giving LIU an early 1-0 lead in the match.
 
In singles, the Blackbirds had wins at Nos. 1, 5 and 6 singles to clinch the championship. Grigoryan beat Marta Ruszczynska, 6-3, 6-2 in the No. 1 spot, while Leonte beat Anamaria Vladescu, 7-5, 6-2 at No. 5 singles. And senior Clemence Krug beat Liza Rachenko in the No. 6 singles spot, 6-4, 6-2. It was the first time the dominant senior dropped a game this weekend.
 
After going 3-0 in her matches and surrendering just six games on the weekend, LIU Brooklyn senior Clemence Krug was named the 2019 NEC Women's Tennis Championship Most Valuable Player. She was joined on the All-Tournament team by LIU senior Anna Grigoryan and junior Ana Leonte. FDU senior Marta Ruszczynska and junior Patricia Eftenoiu earned All-Tournament honors, as did Sacred Heart senior Olivia Podsiebierski and Bryant freshman Ada Boru.
 
With the championship title, the Blackbirds earn the league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament for the third year in a row. The 2019 NCAA selection show will take place Monday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m.
 
 
LIU Brooklyn 4, Fairleigh Dickinson 0

Singles
1. Anna Grigoryan (LIU) def. RUSZCZYNSKA, Marta (FDU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Jessica Brzozowska (LIU) vs. VOROZHEIKINA, A. (FDU) 7-6 (7-4), 3-0, unfinished
3. Sasha Bollweg (LIU) vs. EFTENOIU, Patricia (FDU) 2-6, 6-2, 0-3, unfinished
4. Malin Leysen (LIU) vs. EFTENOIU, Tatiana (FDU) 4-6, 5-4, unfinished
5. Ana Leonte (LIU) def. VLADESCU, Anamaria (FDU) 7-5, 6-2
6. Clemence Krug (LIU) def. RACHENKO, Liza (FDU) 6-4, 6-2
 
Doubles
1. Anna Grigoryan/Ana Leonte (LIU) def. RUSZCZYNSKA, Marta/VOROZHEIKINA, A. (FDU) 6-3
2. Sasha Bollweg/Jessica Brzozowska (LIU) vs. EFTENOIU, Patricia/VLADESCU, Anamaria (FDU) 3-5, unfinished
3. Malin Leysen/Jennifer Gogova (LIU) def. EFTENOIU, Tatiana/MENZIN, Carolin (FDU) 6-4
 
Match Notes:
2019 NEC Women's Tournament Final
#1 LIU Brooklyn vs. #2 Fairleigh Dickinson