ATLANTA, GA—The Williams Women's tennis team earned what will perhaps go down as their biggest win of the regular season Wednesday, taking down the Emory Eagles 5-4. Emory had moved from #4 to #1 just hours before the match began in the latest ITA poll. Williams fell from #2 to #4 in that same poll.
The outlook was grim for the Ephs after doubles play, as all three pairs lost their pro-sets. The top duo of Kristin Alotta and Nikki Reich came desperately close to taking their match, but fell 7-3 in a tiebreak.
Unperturbed by the hole they found themselves in after doubles, Williams clawed back into the contest one match at a time. Kathleen Elkins defeated 2010 All-American selection Zahra Dawson in two close sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4). Senior co-captain Lucy Marchese had an equally if not more impressive win at number three. Marchese defeated the 2009 individual national champion, Lome McManigle, in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
The Ephs won four consecutive matches to start off singles play, and held a 4-3 lead with the one and two matches still on court. Kristin Alotta then dropped a three set marathon 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. The fate of the match was still in the balance as Nancy Worley entered her third set. Worley came up big and won the deciding set 6-3.
"The last two times we beat Emory we swept in doubles, so it was great to see us get it done even though we struggled in doubles. We had some incredibly gutsy performances in singles out there, I feel like everybody just believed that they could win on their court and then got it done. I'm so proud of them," commented coach Alison Swain after the match.
The match concludes Williams' busy spring break. The Ephs will begin NESCAC play Saturday as they return north to visit the Connecticut College Camels. Match time is set for 1:00.
Singles competition
1. Clark, Gabrielle (EUW) def. Alotta, Kristin (WIL) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
2. Worley, Nancy (WIL) def. Wylie, Jordan (EUW) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
3. Marchese, Lucy (WIL) def. McManigle, Lorne (EUW) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
4. Elkins, Kathleen (WIL) def. Dawson, Zahra (EUW) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
5. Capute, Caroline (WIL) def. Padmanabhan, Malavik (EUW) 6-3, 6-1
6. Shoemaker, Kara (WIL) def. Callava, Laura (EUW) 6-4, 6-4
7. Friedman, Katie (WIL) def Brandt, Taylor (EUW) 8-4
8. Li, Veranika (WIL) def Kelly, Brenna (EUW) 8-6
Doubles competition
1. Clark, Gabrielle/McManigle, Lorne (EUW) def. Alotta, Kristin/Reich, Nicole (WIL) 9-8 (7-3)
2. Wylie, Jordan/Dawson, Zahra (EUW) def. French, Taylor/Worley, Nancy (WIL) 8-4
3. Kelly, Brenna/Padmanabhan, Malavik (EUW) def. Marchese, Lucy/Elkins, Kathleen (WIL) 8-6
4. Capute/Shoemaker (WIL) def Brandt/Logan (EUW) 8-1
