MEDFORD - Seventh-ranked Middlebury College won four out of six singles matches to earn a close 5-4 victory over #14 Tufts in a NESCAC women's tennis match at Voute Courts Sunday.
Tufts won two out of three in doubles to lead 2-1 heading into singles. However, the Panthers posted four straight singles wins to clinch the team victory. Middlebury is now 6-3 overall and 4-1 in NESCAC, while the Jumbos dropped to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in the league.
Middlebury's Christina Puccinelli and Alexandra Fields gave the visitors a 1-0 lead with an 8-2 win in third doubles. However, Tufts would take the other two matchces to gain an advantage. Lauren Louks and Mina Karamercan won 8-4 over Ria Gerger and Kaysee Orozco in #1 doubles, while Jumbos Conner Calabro and Otilia Popa catured the second match 8-5.
The Pathers would get the better of singles play. Mollie Paradies was first off the court with a 6-4, 6-1 win at #5 which evened the team score at 2-2. Lily Bondy, ranked 24th nationally in singles, won 6-3, 6-4 in #3 singles giving the Panthers a 3-2 edge. Wins by Gerger over Louks in the #1 match (6-3, 6-3) and by Puccinelli at #4 (6-3, 7-6 (0)) gave Middlebury a 5-2 lead and secured the win.
With the match decided, Jumbos Chelsea Hayashi at #6 and Karamercan at #2 both won to make it a 5-4 final. Karamercan was down a set to Fields before rallying to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Tufts has another a home match coming up against Wellesley College on Thursday at 4 pm. The Jumbos have played six of their first seven New England spring matches as the home team. They will soon hit the road for four in a row.
The Panthers are off until Friday when they host Emory at noon.
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