SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Making its fifth-straight Northeast Conference Tournament appearance, the Bryant University women's tennis team has garnered the No. 2 seed, taking on No. 7 Mount St. Mary's in Friday's quarterfinals.
After finishing the season 5-12 and 4-1 in the NEC, the Bulldogs face the Mount (7-12, 1-4) for the second time this season. In the regular season, Bryant defeated the Mount, 6-1. The Bulldogs recorded their only league loss this season to top-seeded LIU Brooklyn, 6-1.
The last time the Blackbirds were the No. 1 seed in the tournament, the Bulldogs defeated them, 4-0, to capture the 2015 NEC title. Last season, Bryant earned the No. 1 seed in the postseason but was uprooted by No. 2 Fairleigh Dickinson, 4-3, in the championship match.
Senior Marion Bouillin (San Diego, Calif.) has consistently played the No. 1 spot, going 3-12 on the season and 2-3 against league opponents.
In the latter half of the spring, junior Linnea Sjoberg (Stockholm, Sweden) stepped in and was successful at two, going 3-1 overall and 3-0 in NEC play.
Junior Ashanti Campfield (Stratford, Conn.) has gone 4-1 in league play, earning NEC Player of the Week after helping the Bulldogs sweep FDU and Sacred Heart.
Seeing time at both No. 4 and 5 singles, junior Stefanie Arroyo (Gurabo, Puerto Rico) has combined to go 7-5 and 4-1 in conference, including an undefeated record at No. 4 singles in the NEC. Arroyo put together an impressive fall season, earning NEC Player of the Month in September.
The Bulldogs' No. 1 singles player last season, senior Ryan Brown (Austin, Texas) has found the most success at No. 5 singles, posting a 2-2 record overall, earning both wins against league opponents.
The Bryant pair of Bouillin and Brown have gone 3-2 in the NEC at No. 1 doubles, while Campfield and Nina Luiggi (Nottingham, England) have combined for the same record at No. 2 doubles. Arroyo and Sjoberg have been the most successful Bryant duo, boasting a 5-3 overall record and 4-1 in the NEC at No. 3 doubles.
Under reigning NEC Coach of the Year Barbara Cilli, the No. 2 Bulldogs will begin tournament action against No. 7 Mount St. Mary's, beginning Friday at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, N.J.
