WEST POINT, N.Y. – Kelly Klein (Ross, California) won the clinching match for the Colgate women's tennis team Thursday afternoon as the Raiders swept the Holy Cross Crusaders, 4-0, at the Lichtenberg Tennis Center at Army West Point.
 
With the victory, the Raiders earned their first playoff victory since 2013.
 
Klein, MacKenzie Deeter (Wadsworth, Ohio) and Jordan Williams (Fort Washington, Maryland) all earned a pair of victories for the Raiders with Lauren O'Brien (Leawood, Kansas) and Stephanie Fuentes (Far Hills, New Jersey) teamed up to win at No. 3 doubles.
 
The Raiders opened up the match by taking the doubles point with three successive victories. Klein and Cheyenne Brown (Dayton, New Jersey) opened up doubles point with a 6-2 victory at No. 2 shortly followed by Deeter and Williams' win at No. 1 doubles to clinch the point. O'Brien and Fuentes finished up their win at No. 3 doubles as the No. 1 match finished.
 
Singles was much of the same for Colgate as Deeter dropped just one set to set the tone with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles. Williams followed Deeter with a win tat No. 2 singles before Klein's clinching victory at No. 4 singles.
 
DOUBLES
No. 1 – Deeter/Williams ('Gate) def. Reilly/McGuire (HC): 6-1
No. 2 – Klein/Brown ('Gate) def. Elia/Martin (HC): 6-2
No. 3 – O'Brien/Fuentes ('Gate) def. Kam/Lewis (HC): 6-2
 
SINGLES
No. 1 – Deeter ('Gate) def. Reiling (HC): 6-0, 6-1
No. 2 – Williams ('Gate) def. Martin (HC): 6-1, 6-1
No. 3 – O'Brien ('Gate) vs. Elia (HC): 6-4, 1-3 DNF
No. 4 – Klein ('Gate) def. McGuire (HC): 6-2, 6-1
No. 5 – Brown ('Gate) vs. Kary (HC): 6-3, 1-2 DNF
No. 6 – Simek ('Gate) vs. Kam (HC): 6-3 DNF
 
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Bobby Pennington
On Thursday's match
"This team could have gone one of two ways after Lafayette. They could have been down about it and hung their heads, or they could come out sharp. We were super sharp today, they played great in the doubles. MacKenzie, Jordan and Kelly all looked really sharp to win in singles.
 
"Holy Cross played a much better match than when we played in the regular season. They really came to play today and it was an efficient performance from us."
 
On Kelly Klein
"Kelly's a four-year starter and has battled to pretty extensive hip injuries. A lot of kids would have quit at that point but she persevered. To be a four-year starter in singles and doubles is impressive. She's playing some of her best tennis right now and I'm proud of her."
 
On Facing Navy Friday morning
"Navy is an outstanding team. We played them in the regular season after George Mason. After a late night against George Mason, taking nothing away from Navy, we were kind of depleted. Tomorrow we're going to be fresh on a neutral surface. We have nothing to lose and we're going to come out sharp and hungry once again. I'm really looking forward to the rematch."
 
UP NEXT
The Raiders advanced to the quarterfinals of the Patriot League Tournament and will face the No. 1 seed Navy at 8:30 a.m. with the match most likely to be played in the Lichtenberg Tennis Center, Army West Point's indoor tennis facility.