Quinnipiac women’s tennis has done it again, clinching its second straight MAAC regular season championship with its win over the Fairfield Stags April 16 and its second consecutive unbeaten MAAC season with its win over the Niagara Purple Eagles April 18.
The wins give Quinnipiac its fifth regular season title since the 2020-21 season and extends its conference win streak to 18 straight matches dating back to the 2024-25 campaign. Part of that success has come with key contributions from the best that head coach Paula Miller’s program has to offer.
Leading the way in that charge is sophomore Willow Renton who is in the midst of yet another great season.
In her freshman campaign, Renton made her presence felt. She led the Bobcats to their 10th MAAC Championship in program history, won MAAC Rookie of the Year and MAAC Player of the Year, and finished with one loss in singles play and a perfect record in doubles action with her partner junior Caitlin Flower.
This season Renton continued that dominance to the tune of a perfect singles record and a 14-win season in doubles play with Flower, earning MAAC Player of the Week four times.
“We mesh really well together,” Renton said in an interview with Steve Lenox of Quinnipiac Athletics. “I love playing with her. She’s so much fun to play with.”
Against the Stags and the Purple Eagles, Renton went 4-0 across singles and doubles play, beating all four opponents in straight sets.
Flower herself has had her own fair share of success, crossing the 100 win milestone March 21 against the University of New Haven Chargers and ending the season with 11 wins in singles action. Senior Isabella Baker is another key contributor, entering her final MAAC Tournament on a nine-match singles win streak.
At the root of all of this success is Miller, who has established a legacy of winning and greatness that stretches back over a decade. Since taking over the program in the 2014-15 season, Miller has led her team to a 73-2 record in MAAC play which resulted in 10 perfect seasons, eight Coach of the Year awards, 10 regular season titles and seven conference tournament championships.
To say her reign with the Bobcats has been dominant is an understatement.
“We’ve been tough on the court,” Miller said. “We never give up, even if we’re down, we come back. Even if they lose that first set, they have the confidence that they can still win.”
The Bobcats focus now shifts to capturing MAAC Championship number eight, taking on the Fairfield Stags for the second time this year with the same high pace mentality that they have carried with them all season.
“Our team does really well at keeping the energy high,” Renton said.
Matches are slated to begin from the Princeton University Racquet and Fieldhouse in Princeton, N.J. at 10 a.m. Friday, April 24.
