AMHERST, MA. – Williams freshman Nikki
Reich won the deciding match at court four to give the Ephs their
first victory over the Amherst Lord Jeff's since the spring
of 2006.
After relinquishing the first set 4-6, Reich
came from behind to take the last two sets, 6-3, 7-5 for the the
fifth point in another close 5-4 decision between the two
schools.
Close decisions against Amherst are no
stranger to the Ephs, as the Lord Jeff's have won the last
three contests by a 5-4 score. Today the Ephs
turned the tables to deal their archrival its first defeat of the
year.
“We proved to ourselves that we can win
big points and take over matches,” commented Williams head
coach Alison Swain.
“Overall this was a huge confidence builder for our program
and for the coming weeks of the season.”
Williams stole some early momentum, taking two
of three doubles matches. The duos of Allie
Rottkamp and Grace Baljon, and Nikki Reich and Annie Hancock,
compiled solid wins at the two and three doubles courts.
In singles play, Baljon swiftly defeated her
opponent in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Cary Gibson
bounced back from her loss in doubles play with a come from behind
three set victory at court one. Amherst did not go down quietly,
and their third, fifth, and sixth singles players knotted the match
at four points apiece before Reich's heroics gave the Ephs
the win.
“We [Williams] lost to Amherst this
fall, 5-4,” continued Swain. “Today
was a humongous win for our program.
Williams is now 10-2 on the year, and more
importantly, off to a 1-0 start in the NESCAC
conference. Amherst falls to 7-1 on the season,
and 1-1 in conference play.
The Ephs continue their conference schedule
and will host Middlebury on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.
Williams 5, Amherst 4
Doubles:
1)
Alicia Menezes/Brittany Berckes (A) def. Cary Gibson/Annie
Schneidman (W) --- 8-6
2)
Allie Rottkamp/Grace Baljon (W) def. Jill Wexler/Natasha Brown (A)
--- 8-4
3)
Nikki Reich/Annie Hancock (W) def. Jennifer Murphy/Laura Stein (A)
--- 8-6
Singles:
1)
Gibson (W) def.
Berckes (A) --- 3-6, 6-0, 6-3
2)
Baljon (W) def.
Wexler (A) --- 6-4, 6-2
3)
Menezes (A) def.
Ashley Parsons (W) --- 6-4, 7-5
4)
Reich (W) def. Monica Snyder (A) --- 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
5)
Laken King (A) def. Rottkamp (W) --- 6-7(9-7), 6-3, 6-4
6)
Brown (A) def. Hancock (W) --- 7-5, 7-5
Exhibition Doubles:
4)
Parsons/Geni Loomis def. Anuja Ankola/Jennifer
Ouyang (A) --- 8-5
5)
Carlissa King/Amelia Bell (A) def. Kathryn Friedman/Jane Kelley (W)
---8-3
Exhibition Singles:
6)
C. King (A) def. Schneidman (W) --- 6-3, 7-6(1)
7)
Loomis (W) def. Murphy (A) --- 6-1, 6-2
8)
Charlotte Wilinsky (A) def. Katrina Ferrera (W) --- 6-4
9)
Friedman (W) def. Bell (A) --- 6-3, 6-4
