WILLIAMSTOWN,
MA. – Despite a relentless wind and tough on court
conditions, Williams (19-2) women's tennis advanced past
Middlebury (11-10), 5-1, and will head to Georgia for the Elite 8
of the NCAA tournament.
The two conference opponents had already faced
off twice earlier in the season, with Williams taking both
matches. The match
was tighter today than it had been in previous contests, as the two
of three unfinished matches were involved in three set battles
while the third unfinished match appeared in Middlebury's
control.
Nevertheless, the Ephs pulled out the win
after taking a 2-1 lead out of doubles.
Williams' Annie Hancock and Kristin Alotta fell at court
three to Jamie Haar and Victoria Aiello of Middlebury,
8-4. The Ephs took the matches at courts one and
two by 8-6 scores.
Alotta redeemed her doubles loss by tallying
the first singles point for the Ephs. She
defeated Clare Burke at court two, 6-0, 6-3.
Nikki Reich followed shortly at court three, beating
the Panther's Elizabeth Stone, 6-2, 6-2.
Lucy Marchese, after taking a first set tiebreak, closed out a
routine second set to seal the victory for the Ephs.
“We are thrilled to be heading to
Atlanta,” said Williams' head coach Alison
Swain. “We definitely feel privileged, and
this is something we have worked very hard for.
Middlebury was definitely more prepared to play us today, and the
wind was tough to adjust to but we showed our positivity and mental
fortitude."
Williams will play the winner of the Mary
Washington/Denison match up on Tuesday, May 19.
Williams 5, Middlebury 1
Doubles-
1)
Gibson/Reich (W) def. Stone/Kurien (M) --- 8-6
2)
Baljon/French (W) def. Burke/Burke (W) --- 8-6
3)
Haar/Aiello (M) def. Hancock/Alotta (W) --- 8-4
Singles-
1)
Grace Baljon (W) vs. Victoria Aiello (M) --- 6-7(1), 6-1, 3-3
2)
Chandra Kurien (M) led Cary Gibson (W) --- 4-6, 6-2, 3-2
3)
Nikki Reich (W) def. Elizabeth Stone (M) --- 6-2, 6-2
4)
Kristin Alotta (W) def. Clare Burke (M) --- 6-0, 6-3
5)
Lucy Marchese (W) def. Anna Burke (M) --- 7-6(5), 6-2
6)
Jamie Haar (M) led Annie Hancock (W) --- 6-3, 5-4
