Release courtesy of CNR Athletics

FLUSHING, NY -  It was a late night thriller in Queens.  The College of New Rochelle Womens Tennis team battled Vaughn College in a late night, Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Semi-Final at the USTA Tennis Center Wednesday night.  The winner receiving the ticket the Championships on Saturday.

The match wouldn't end til almost 11:30, but in the end CNR's singles play proved better than Vaughn's and gave the Blue Angels the 5-4 win.  The two teams faced off in regular season play only two weeks ago, with CNR winning easily 7-2.  But, as the saying goes, the post-season is a brand new season.

Early on, Vaughn was a believer in just that, as the Warriors shocked CNR by taking two of the three doubles matches to go up 2-1 heading into singles play.  They were ahead in the other (1st doubles) by a 5-2 score.  But CNR freshmen Sydney Thompson (Chelan, WA) and Chloe Wang (White Plains, NY)rallied to win 8-5.

But, CNR won 1st, 3rd, and 4th singles to go up 4-3 after Vaughn snagged the 6th singles.   With two matches left, and CNR trailing one and winning one, the intensity skyrocketed.   Vaughn would win the 5th singles match to tie it 4-4.  That left Wang at 2nd singles who pulled out the 8-4 win and gave CNR its first trip to the finals.

CNR will play undefeated and top-ranked Pratt on Saturday - again at the USTA Tennis Center - in the finals.