The College of Staten Island women's tennis team is riding an incredible season, and is focused on the remainder of the CUNYAC/Hospital for Special Surgery Women's Tennis Championship, with the semifinals and final set for this week at the National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY.  The Dolphins, by virtue of their 7-0 CUNYAC mark this season, are the top-seed in the tourney, and will kick off Semifinal play on Tuesday against 13-time defending-champion Hunter College at 4pm.

Regular season success under Head Coach Paul Ricciardi is standard fare for the team, but the Dolphins outdid themselves this year, posting a remarkable 13-2 overall mark before an 8-0 trouncing of No. 8 York College in quarterfinal play on Sunday, advancing them to the field of four.  No. 2 Brooklyn College takes on No. 3 Baruch College in the other semi, making for what will be a tremendous day of activity on Tuesday that will bleed into the CUNYAC Final on Saturday, same time, and same place.

"We are really looking forward to getting back to the National Tennis Center and competing at the highest level with the CUNYAC's best programs this week," said Ricciardi.  "We've been working hard all season and learning a great deal, and now it's time to use that experience and elevating it in the postseason.  It is a very exciting time for everyone."

CSI has reason to be excited.  They ripped off an unblemished conference season, one that came with a 6-3 win over Hunter College on September 21, the fifth of six straight wins the team had to open the season.  That doesn't mean that the postseason matchup between the two sides will be a walk in the park for the Dolphins.  The Hawks, after all, are the CUNYAC Champions 13 years running, and handed the Dolphins a 5-1 loss in last year's CUNYAC Final.  Coach Ricciardi knows the matchup will be an enticing one.

"We all know the type of challenge a team like Hunter College poses and no one is going to overlook that.  They are the champions until they are dethroned and we haven't won anything yet," Ricciardi noted.  "That said, we know what we are capable of and we are looking forward to stepping up to that challenge."

There is no doubting CSI's positioning for the tournament.  The team's strength lies with the bottom of the order, as the team boasts an overall mark of 27-1 from flights three to six within the CUNYAC, and their second and third doubles teams this season are a remarkable 14-0 in conference games this season.

"Absolutely the strength of our team is our depth and we are confident that all nine spots are in play," Ricciardi said.   "I think all of our players have built a trust in each other and a quiet confidence that we can compete with anyone on any day.  We will need to be at our best for this run in the playoffs, but I think we are ready to have fun and work hard."

The winner of CSI-Hunter will take on the winner of Brooklyn vs. Baruch, which will play their match simultaneous to when CSI matches up against the Hawks tomorrow at National Tennis Center.  CSI defeated Baruch (6-3) and Brooklyn (7-2) in a three-day stretch earlier this season.  In their lone regular season meeting, Brooklyn slid by the Bearcats, 5-4.  Despite the neutral site location, CSI is serving as the host team in the Tournament.  The Final takes place at 4pm at National Tennis Center.  Tickets to the Semifinals and Final are free but can be registered for HERE.  If you can't make it to the match, live stats will be streamed through the CUNYAC here.