LEWISTON, ME. – Williams's
domination through NESCAC play this season concluded in appropriate
fashion this afternoon, as the Ephs blanked the Bates Bobcats in
blistering performances in both doubles and singles play.
The number two team in the nation delivered an
8-1 knockout to finish the season atop the NESCAC standings at
6-0. The Ephs finish
the regular season at 15-2. Bates fell to 4-11 overall and
1-5 in conference play.
The lone bright spot for Bates came at number
one doubles where Cecilia Grissa and Alexandra Piacquad upset
Williams' top duo of Cary Gibson and Annie Schneidman, 8-6.
While Gibson and Schneidman are rated a lofty No. 2, Grissa and
Piacquad are currently the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's
17th-ranked doubles pair in the Northeast.
Any momentum the Bobcats may have grabbed was
quickly squelched by the Ephs singles lineup. Gibson, Grace Baljon, and Allie
Rottkamp did not relinquish a single game in 6-0, 6-0
victories. The
remaining three players in the lineup lost a total of four games to
send Bates packing.
“It was a great day for Williams
tennis,” said Ephs head coach Alison Swain. “We played very clean and focused
tennis, and we are really looking forward to post season play next
weekend.”
Although the seeds have not been announced,
Williams will likely take the top spot at the NESCAC Championships
at Middlebury next weekend.
Williams College 8,
Bates College 1
Doubles
1. Grissa/Piacquad (B) def. Cary
Gibson/Annie Schneidman (W) --- 8-6
2. Allie Rottkamp/Grace Baljon (W)
def. Benisch/Raghavan (B) --- 8-0
3. Nikki Reich/Annie Hancock (W)
def. Fleming/Gulliver (B) --- 8-1
Singles
1. Gibson
(W) def. Cecilia Grissa (B) --- 6-0, 6-0
2. Baljon
(W) def. Alex Piacquad (B) --- 6-0, 6-0
3. Ashley
Parsons (W) def. Caryn Benisch (B) --- 6-2, 6-0
4. Reich
(W) def. Mallika Raghavan (B) --- 6-0, 6-1
5.
Rottkamp (W) def. Liz Fleming (B) --- 6-0, 6-0
6. Hancock
(W) def. Jean Gulliver (B) --- 6-1, 6-0
