Ephs win regional final, 5-0, and advance to NCAA Quarterfinals
WILLIAMSTOWN – As Williams advances deeper into the NCAA tournament, every round continues to get tougher than the previous match and the squad must up their mental and physical toughness.After sending St. Lawrence home in less than two hours yesterday, the Ephs faced off against a more competitive Wellesley squad in the regional final today.
Having been battle tested yesterday against Tufts, Wellesley was coming off a great program win. Williams displayed their hard work this season, and handled the challenge with ease in a 5-0 win to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals.
The Ephs played three solid doubles matches, but Wellesley seemed determined to not bow out so easily. Williams was challenged early on in singles play. At court one, Cary Gibson struggled to find her game and fell in the first, 1-6. Both Ashley Parsons and Nikki Reich managed to take a first set of each of their matches, 6-4, but battled to do so.
At court two, Grace Baljon’s power hitting proved too tough for her opponent and she tallied the fourth point of the match for Williams with a 6-4, 6-2 result. Reich had upped the intensity of play at court four, and minutes after Baljon’s victory, sealed the match for the Ephs with a 6-4, 6-1 finish.
“Wellesley is a very good team, and they pushed us,” said Williams head coach Alison Swain. “But we showed we’re ready. We’re peaking at the right time, and playing very well. We’re thrilled to be going to Minnesota!”
Williams will face the winner of Mary Washington and John Hopkins in a quarterfinal match on May 13.
Williams 5, Wellesley 0
Doubles:
1) Cary Gibson/Annie Schneidman (Wi) def. Jenna Mezin/Hali Walther (We) --- 8-2
2) Allie Rottkamp/Grace Baljon (Wi) def. Jen Schwarzkopf/Trish Devine (We) --- 8-4
3) Annie Hancock/Nikki Reich (Wi) def. Shivani Saxena/Jacqueline Shen (We) --- 8-5
Singles:
1) Gibson (Wi) tied with Mezin (We) --- 1-6, 6-1 DNF
2) Baljon (Wi) def. Schwarzkopf (We) --- 6-3, 6-2
3) Ashley Parsons (Wi) led. Meghan Stubblebine (We) --- 6-4, 4-3
4) Reich (Wi) def. Devine (We) --- 6-4, 6-1
5) Rottkamp (Wi) vs. Saxena (We) --- DNP
6) Hancock (Wi) vs. Shen (We) --- DNP
Williams rolls in first match of NCAAs, defeats St. Lawrence 5-0
WILLIAMSTOWN – Despite the early morning start time, the Williams women’s tennis team was prepped and ready to play as they breezed past a visiting St. Lawrence squad, 5-0.
Finishing the match in just under two hours at the indoor facilities in Chapman Lansing Rink, the second-ranked Ephs advance to play the winner of the 1:00 match up between #8 Wellesley University and #13 Tufts University.
St. Lawrence had advanced to the Round of 32 upon defeating SUNY New Paltz, 5-0, yesterday afternoon. A very talented Williams squad proved too much for the Saints today, as the Ephs established dominance early in the match after soaring to a 3-0 lead in doubles play in just forty-five minutes.
Freshman Nikki Reich tallied the first singles win at court four. Defeating Chelsea Hubbell in a 6-0, 6-0 result, the Ephs needed just one more point to defeat the opposition. It seemed to be only a matter of time as Grace Baljon led at court two by a set, and was serving at 3-0 in the second set when Reich finished her match. Baljon eventually closed out the match against Casey Gilman, 6-2, 6-0 to give Williams the win and a spot in tomorrow’s regional final.
“It is great to put a check mark next to the round of 32, and be into the round of 16,” said Williams’ head coach Alison Swain. “Whether we play Wellesley or Tufts tomorrow, it is definitely going to be a battle. We’re very excited though, and felling good about our tennis right now.”
St. Lawrence finishes their season with a 15-5 record, while Williams ups their overall record to 17-3.
Williams 5, St. Lawrence 0
Doubles:
1) Cary Gibson/Annie Schneidman (W) def. Kirsten Lannon/Chelsea Hubbell (SL) --- 8-1
2) Allie Rottkamp/Grace Baljon (W) def. Stephanie Finn/Casey Gilman (SL) --- 8-2
3) Nikki Reich/Annie Hancock (W) def. Teresa Rodriguez/Liz Ronty (SL) --- 8-3
Singles:
1) Gibson (W) led. Lannon (SL) --- 7-5, 2-2 DNF
2) Baljon (W) def. Gilman (SL) --- 6-2, 6-0
3) Ashley Parsons (W) led. Rodriguez (SL) --- 6-2, 3-2 DNF
4) Reich (W) def. Hubbell (SL) --- 6-0, 6-0
5) Rottkamp (W) led. Mackenzie Hall (SL) --- 40-30 DNF
6) Annie Hancock (W) vs. Paige Cohen (SL) --- DNP
