Bennington, VT – Some wins are just different. On Saturday, the Ephs delivered their most emotional and hard fought victory of the season, edging out Middlebury 4–3 in a thriller that had everything: weather delays, momentum swings, dramatic rallies, and a walk-off winner from a senior in his final stretch of college tennis.
Originally scheduled to be played outside in Williamstown, the match was moved indoors to the Bennington Tennis Center after a sudden downpour soaked the courts during warm ups. But even with the unexpected shift, Williams showed up locked in and the energy never dipped.
Doubles set the tone. On Court 1, seniors
Nicholas Chen and
Shawn Berdia played lights out tennis from the first ball, overwhelming their opponents with sharp returns and quick hands to dominate 6–1. On Court 3,
Jack Ling and
Diego Marin stayed steady through tight early games before pulling away to win 6–4 with clutch volleys and fearless shots. That gave the Ephs the doubles point. The only doubles match remaining was on court 2 and had a few momentum shifts, but
Andrew Chong and
Simon Volkema stayed calm, broke at 6–5, and slammed the door 7–5 to complete the sweep. Three courts, three wins. It was the kind of doubles point you dream of: clean, electric, and loud.
Singles play, though, was a roller coaster. Chen battled on Court 1 against Middlebury's top player but couldn't quite find his range, falling 6–2, 6–3. Marin faced constant pressure on Court 5 and fell 6–3, 6–3. Suddenly, that 1–0 lead was gone. Williams trailed 2–1.
On Court 4,
Jack Ling was grooving. He found himself ahead 3-2 in the first set and his opponent was forced to retire with an injury. It was an unfortunate end, but the point counted, and it brought the match back to even at 2–2.
Berdia, as steady as ever, delivered when the team needed him. On Court 2, he played disciplined, attacking tennis and kept his composure through a tense second-set tiebreak to take it 6–2, 7–6 (4). The roar he let out afterward said it all. Williams led 3–2.
Middlebury wouldn't go away. On Court 3,
Simon Volkema played one of the gutsiest matches of the day. After taking the first set 6–3, he fought tooth and nail in a physical, back-and-forth battle. Ultimately, Epstein from Middlebury pulled through in the third set, tying things up at 3–3.
And then, all eyes turned to Court 6.
Senior
Andrew Chong, one of the team's most consistent and selfless competitors, was in the spotlight. He had taken the first set 6–4, and now found himself up 5–4 in the second, serving for the match, and for the team. He was broken. But instead of folding, he broke right back. At 6–5, deuce point, the entire match, and a little bit of legacy, hung in the balance.
The final rally was long. Every shot felt like it carried the weight of the season. And then, with the crowd practically holding its breath, Chong ripped a cross-court backhand passing shot winner that clipped the sideline for a clean winner. Game. Set. Match. Clinch.
The team didn't wait. They sprinted onto the court, tackling Chong in a pile of hugs, yells, and disbelief. It was Chong's first college clinch, and it couldn't have been more perfect. A senior, on the home stretch of his career, sealing the win with his teammates pouring in around him. It was the kind of moment that makes all the early mornings, long practices, and tough losses worth it.
Eph head coach
Dan Greenberg reflected on the match, saying: "Today was a great team effort. Everyone came to play and stepped up when it mattered most, which we've been working on all spring, so it was awesome to see it come together against such a tough opponent. And for our seniors to clinch those wins was special. We're looking forward to the homestretch these next few weeks."
With the win, Williams improves to 7–6 overall and 5–3 in the NESCAC. The Ephs will return home next weekend to take on Trinity and Wesleyan, and they'll do it with fire, belief, and the memory of one unforgettable afternoon still fresh in their minds.
Doubles:
- Berdia/Chen (WIL) def. Laber/Wijemanne (MIDD) 6-1
- Volkema/Chong (WIL) def. Epstein/Hentschel (MIDD) 7-5
- Ling/Marin (WIL) def. Larsen/Lewis (MIDD) 6-4
Singles:
- Laber (MIDD) def. Chen (WIL) 6-2, 6-3
- Berdia (WIL) def. Wu (MIDD) 6-2, 7-6 (4)
- Epstein (MIDD) def. Volkema (WIL) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
- Ling (WIL) def. Lewis (MIDD) 3-2 (ret.)
- Wijemanne (MIDD) def. Marin (WIL) 6-3, 6-3
- Chong (WIL) def. Hentschel (MIDD) 6-4, 7-5
