ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- The University of Charleston women's tennis historic season came to a close Wednesday morning in the NCAA DII Women's Tennis National Championships at Sanlando Park with a loss in the round of 16 to the #1 ranked Barry University Buccaneers, 4-0.

Charleston, the No. 16 seed entering the tournament, faced an uphill climb against the two-time defending national champions of NCAA DII Women's Tennis.  The Bucs earned the doubles point with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles despite the Golden Eagles forcing deuce games but their experience over UC proved to be the difference with Charleston making their first ever National Championship appearance.

Barry got their second point at No. 2 singles over Charleston sophomore Katie Swann.  Swann was unable to capitalize on multiple deuce games against the Bucs' Jill Engelmann, falling 6-0, 6-0.  Elise Edwards fought hard in her final singles match as a Golden Eagles but couldn't scratch out a win at No. 3 singles as Barry took the 3-0 lead over the upset-minded Charleston squad.  Moments later Edwards' fellow senior and doubles teammate Silvana Slusarciuc played her last point for the Maroon & Gold, falling at No. 4 singles, 6-0, 6-2, in the blistering Florida sun.  Edwards (68), Kristine Gegeshidze (65), and Slusarciuc all finish with 50-plus singles wins over their career including being a part of this season's 24-win season, the most for a Shari Reed coached UC women's tennis team. 

It was the first NCAA DII Tennis Championship appearance for the University of Charleston in what would be Shari Reed's final match as head coach, ending a 22-year career at the post.  Reed ends her tenure with over 400 career wins (includes four years as men's head coach).  She is the women's program all-time leader and fourth in total victories in Golden Eagle Athletics history. She trails only Tom Nozica, Dr. Bren Stevens, and Bud Francis.
 

Barry 4, University of Charleston 0

Singles Competition

1. Carolin Schmidt (BARRY-W) vs. Kristine Gegeshidze (UCWV); match was unfinished: 6-4, 2-0

2. Jil Engelmann (BARRY-W) def. Katie Swann (UCWV) 6-0, 6-0

3. Julie Razafindranaly (BARRY-W) def. Elise Edwards (UCWV) 6-3, 6-0

4. Eleonore Barrere (BARRY-W) def. Silvana Slusarciuc (UCWV) 6-0, 6-2

5. Hannah Seizer (BARRY-W) vs. Mathilde Simon (UCWV); match was unfinished: 6-1, 4-1

6. Patricia Lopez (BARRY-W) vs. Regina Saucedo (UCWV); match was unfinished: 6-1, 3-2

Doubles Competition

1. Jil Engelmann and Eleonore Barrere (BARRY-W) vs. Kristine Gegeshidze and Katie Swann (UCWV); match was unfinished: 5-2

2. Verena Schmid and Zuza Maciejewska (BARRY-W) def. Elise Edwards and Silvana Slusarciuc (UCWV) 6-1

3. Carolin Schmidt and Julie Razafindranaly (BARRY-W) def. Mathilde Simon and Meggan William (UCWV) 6-0