Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – (6/3/2022) – April wins over Cabrini University (W, 5-4 on Apr. 11) and Neumann University (W, 5-4 on Apr. 22) earned Gwynedd Mercy University the #4 seed in the 2022 Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Women's Tennis Championship Tournament. Unfortunately, eventual league champion, #1 Marywood University used a 2-0 head start to dispatch the Griffins in the semifinal round of the AEC tournament; 0-5 on April 28. The defeat closed the Griffins' 2021-2022 campaign with a 4-7 (2-3 AEC) overall record. All-AEC Second Team Doubles recognition was earned by sophomore Casey Meenan (Perkasie, Pa.), sophomore Moira Ryan (King of Prussia, Pa.), sophomore Avamarie Backich (Southampton, Pa.), and senior Jen Eisemann (Langhorne, Pa.).
 
Following fall losses to both Cairn University (L, 1-8 on Sept. 25) and Albright College (L, 1-8 on Oct. 2), Gwynedd Mercy University enjoyed a 2-1 spring restart before battling their league rivals to a 2-3 standing. The Griffins' first victory of the 2021-2022 season came in their first spring match; a 6-3 triumph over Eastern University (0-2) on March 19. Sophomore Rachel Kressler (Center Valley, Pa.) – who was later named the AEC Player of the Week (Mar. 23) - scored a 6-2, 6-1, win at number four singles to secure Gwynedd Mercy University the win over the Eagles. She also teamed with Meenan for an 8-3 win at number one doubles. Additional Griffin points were earned at number two doubles (W, 8-0, by Eisemann/Rival), number three singles (W, 6-2, 6-4, by Backich), and number five singles (W, 6-2, 6-0, by Rival).
 
The AEC season started eight days later with an April-9 match versus Marymount University. The Saints owned the first point with a Griffin default at number three doubles, but an 8-1 number-two doubles win from Eisemann and Backich, and an 8-6 number-one doubles win from Meenan and Ryan gave Gwynedd Mercy University a 2-1 edge. Unfortunately, Griffin defaults in the sixth and fifth individual flights, as well as a forfeit at number one singles put the Saints in the driver's seat of an eventual 5-4 final. Ryan paired her number one doubles win with an 8-4 number-four singles victory to garner AEC Weekly Honor Roll recognition.
 
Fortune favored the Griffins in their next match as doubles wins in the second (W, 8-4, by Eiseman/Backich) and first (W, 8-3, by Meenan/Ryan) team flights gave them a 2-0 lead in an eventual 5-4 triumph over Cabrini University (Apr. 11). Backich scored the go-ahead point with her 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, comeback at number three singles and Meenan recorded the match-winner with her 6-0, 6-1, triumph at number one singles.
 
AEC losses followed on April 13 (L, 2-7 to Immaculata University) and April 20 (L, 1-8 to Marywood University), before a second league win came with a 5-4 triumph over Neumann University. The Senior-Day victory began with an 8-1 number two doubles win from Eisemann and Backich, but the Knights took a 2-1 edge to singles play with consecutive wins in the first (8-5) and third (8-7 (7-4)) doubles flights. In singles play, Neumann University's lead slipped to 3-1 before individual wins from Meenan (#1: 6-2, 6-0), Backich (#4: 6-2, 6-0), Ryan (#3: 6-3, 6-3), and sophomore Nicole Rival (Mickleton, N.J.) (#5: 6-1, 6-0) secured the Griffins the victory and the #4 seed in the AEC postseason.
 
Meenan and Ryan sported a 3-5 number one doubles record; the former was 5-6 overall in doubles play. Meanwhile, Backich and Eisemann teamed for a 3-2 record at number two doubles; overall, Backich was 4-4 between the second (3-2) and third (1-2) flights, while Eisemann was 5-5 between the first (0-1) and second (5-4) flights. As individuals, Meenan's 5-4 number one singles record included 3-1 record versus AEC opponents and Backich's 7-1 singles record included a 4-0 run in the fourth flight and a 2-0 run in the sixth flight. She was 5-0 against AEC opponents.