Williamstown, MA – In a classic Williams-Amherst rivalry showdown, the Ephs left everything on the court but came up just short in a tight 4-3 battle. With dramatic three-setters, clutch shot-making, and momentum swings throughout the afternoon, both teams delivered a match worthy of their historic rivalry.
The day began with doubles, where
Shawn Berdia and
Nicholas Chen set the tone at No. 1. With the match tight at 5-4, Chen made a perfectly timed poach to break serve and clinch a 6-4 win. The duo showcased aggressive net play, with Berdia cracking several signature "Berdie specials" on returns to keep Amherst on their heels. However, Amherst struck back, claiming victories at No. 2 and No. 3 to secure the doubles point and take a 1-0 lead heading into singles.
Singles play was filled with momentum shifts and clutch moments. At No. 1,
Nicholas Chen engaged in a grueling three-set war, trading baseline rockets with Amherst's Sillaste. Down a match point at 5-4 in the third, Chen ripped a down-the-line backhand winner to stay alive, drawing roars from the crowd. He followed it up with a delicate drop volley, but despite his resilience, he was edged out in a tense 7-5 final set.
At No. 2, Berdia delivered an efficient, composed performance. After securing a first set tiebreak with an inside-out forehand winner, he rode the momentum to a 7-6 (3), 6-4 victory. Meanwhile, at No. 3,
Simon Volkema displayed incredible mental toughness. After dropping a tight second set, he sealed the win with a reflex volley at net, capping off a hard-fought 6-4 final set.
On Court 5,
Jack Ling delivered one of the most clutch performances of the day. Tied at a set apiece, Ling unleashed a blistering running forehand pass at 3-2 in the third to earn the decisive break. From there, he never looked back, closing out a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win.
With the match deadlocked at 3-3, all eyes turned to No. 6, where first year
Diego Marin was locked in a battle of wills in his first ever collegiate match. After dropping the first set, he staged a valiant comeback. At 5-4 down in the third, he saved match point in dramatic fashion, scrambling across the court before ripping a clean forehand winner to even the score at 5-5. Unfortunately, he couldn't sustain the momentum in the final stretch, falling just shy of forcing a tiebreak. Despite the result, his fearless play under pressure was a testament to his potential, and his ability to compete at such a high level in his debut match was a bright spot for the team.
After the match, Eph head coach
Dan Greenberg reflected on the battle: "Honestly, an amazing match from start to finish. Both teams battled at every spot, and for it to come down to two rookies playing to clinch it—and playing incredibly tough—made it one of the most memorable Williams-Amherst matches I've seen. I wish it had gone our way, but I couldn't ask for much more given how hard our guys competed."
Despite the tough loss, Williams will look to bounce back quickly against Hamilton tomorrow at 1 PM.
Doubles:
- Berdia/Chen (WIL) def. Sillaste/Opie (AMH) 6-4
- Leung/Harrison (AMH) def. Volkema/Chong (WIL) 6-3
- Chepuri/Hu (AMH) def. Cooper/Liu (WIL) 6-4
Singles:
- Sillaste (AMH) def. Chen (WIL) 6-4, 4-6, 7-5
- Berdia (WIL) def. Opie (AMH) 7-6 (3), 6-4
- Volkema (WIL) def. Abzhan (AMH) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
- Chepuri (AMH) def. Chong (WIL) 6-0, 6-3
- Ling (WIL) def. Harrison (AMH) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
- Wider (AMH) def. Marin (WIL) 6-1, 2-6, 7-5
