PHILADEPHIA, PA -- For the semifinal of the Kurtz Cup at CSA Nationals, the Williams Ephs were set to play the Middlebury Panthers, ranked at #13. The Ephs fought hard to flip the score from the last match up, and won 5-4 over Middlebury, taking them to the finals of the Kurtz Cup.
On first today were
Nora Brant (#9),
Melanie Wang (#2), and
Anika Kakarla (#6). Wang won in five games, and kept focused throughout the match, hitting tight shots and moving well. Kakarla started down two games, but fought her way back in the next three, adding a second point to the Ephs score.
Next on court were
Rachel Miller (#3),
Rhea Pandit (#5), and
Naomi Jefferson-Sambanis (#7). Miller won her match in four games with tight drives and clean volleys. Jefferson-Sambanis won in three straight games, not letting the ball get past her and volleying consistently.
The last round of matches were played by
Sophia Koehler (#1),
Theresa Kay (#4), and
Deena Iqbal (#8). Koehler fought hard in a four game battle, but eventually lost to her Panther opponent. Kay won in four tough games, and ended the match on a tight cross volley drop, giving the Ephs their fifth point on the board.
After the match, head coach
Hesham Aly commented, "We had a lot of great tough matches today, and we are grateful to make it to the finals especially with such a young team."
The Ephs are looking forward to playing Georgetown, ranked #15, tomorrow morning for the Kurtz Cup Finals.
