KALAMAZOO, MI -- Two winning streaks collided today on the Sorenson Courts on the campus of Western Michigan University when Williams squared off against Johns Hopkins University in the National Quarterfinals.
With a 5-1 win Williams extended their season win streak to seven and stopped the Johns Hopkins streak at 16. The Ephs improved to 21-4 on the year, while JHU ends the season at 20-3. The 20 wins by the Blue Jays is a school record.
The Ephs advance to the National Semifinals for the seventh straight year and sixth in a row under head coach Alison Swain. Williams upped its NCAA Tournament record to 61-13, .824).
Williams took the lead in the match when junior Kathleen Elkins and sophomore Maria Pylypiv won at two doubles 8-5.
The Eph lead grew to 2-0 when senior Nancy Worley and sophomore Monica Pastor fashioned an 8-3 win at number three.
Johns Hopkins collected a 9-8 (8) win at number one doubles when Hailey Hogan and Sydney Lehman pinned just the fourth loss of the year on the Eph top tandem of junior Kara Shoemaker and sophomore Rebecca Curran, 9-8 (8). Shoemaker and Curran are 26-4 this year.
Carrying a 2-1 lead into singles the Ephs collected the win with three straight-set singles wins.
A straight-set win by Maria Pylypiv over Stephanie Rettig at five singles 6-0, 6-1 put Williams on top 3-1. Kara Shoemaker at number one singles mirrored the straight-set win formula started by Pylypiv in defeating Elaine Balk 6-1, 6-2. Monica Pastor secured the fifth Eph point by also wining in straight sets. Pastor downed Shannon Libaw 6-1-, 6-1.
"The quarterfinal match is always a great indication of where we are as a team coming in off a week of practice," said Eph head coach Alison Swain. "We came out today with a lot of energy and confidence and carried it through to the finish. I was really happy with third doubles who in just their third match played confident, smart and really worked hard to get the win."
Pick a Streak
Tomorrow two more streaks will collide, this time at Stowe Stadium on the campus of Kalamazoo College at 11:00 AM EST when the Ephs (21-4) face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (30-0) at 11AM for the right to advance to the 2013 title tilt.
Almost exactly two months ago, back on March 23rd the Ephs lost 5-4 to CMS at Claremont. CMS won at one and two doubles and at 1, 2 and 6 singles to register the win.
CMS sports an unblemished 2012-13 season record (31-0), while the Ephs under Swain are 28-0 in NCAA Tournament play, including a 5-1 win over Claremont last spring and a 5-0 win two springs ago. "Claremont is a real strong team with great senior leadership," stated Swain. "We're excited to be playing them and we like being in the role of the underdog."
May 20, 2013 at Kalamazoo, Mich.
(Sorensen Courts)
Live Match Update
|
|
Johns Hopkins |
|
Williams College |
|
|
| |
1 |
|
5 |
|
|
| #1 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Kara Shoemaker, Williams College |
6 |
6 |
|
Order of finish: 2 |
| Elaine Baik, Johns Hopkins |
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
| #2 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Kathleen Elkins, Williams College |
6 |
4 |
|
|
| Hailey Hogan, Johns Hopkins |
2 |
3 |
|
|
|
| #3 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Rebecca Curran, Williams College |
6 |
3 |
|
|
| Shannon Herndon, Johns Hopkins |
1 |
4 |
|
|
|
| #4 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Nancy Worley, Williams College |
5 |
|
|
|
| Sydney Lehman, Johns Hopkins |
7 |
|
|
|
|
| #5 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Maria Pylypiv, Williams College |
6 |
6 |
|
Order of finish: 1 |
| Stephanie Rettig, Johns Hopkins |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
| #6 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Monica Pastor, Williams College |
6 |
6 |
|
Order of finish: 3 |
| Shannon Libaw, Johns Hopkins |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
| #1 DOUBLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Rebecca Curran/Kara Shoemaker, Williams College |
8 |
|
|
Order of finish: 3 |
| Hailey Hogan/Sydney Lehman, Johns Hopkins |
9 |
|
|
|
|
| #2 DOUBLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Kathleen Elkins/Maria Pylypiv, Williams College |
8 |
|
|
Order of finish: 1 |
| Shannon Herndon/Stephanie Rettig, Johns Hopkins |
5 |
|
|
|
|
| #3 DOUBLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Monica Pastor/Nancy Worley, Williams College |
8 |
|
|
Order of finish: 2 |
| Elaine Baik/Abby Clark, Johns Hopkins |
3 |
|
|
|
|
