MEDFORD - The weather didn't cooperate with the Tufts women's tennis team this week, forcing all three of their home matches indoors. That didn't matter though, as Tufts swept the three events concluding with an 8-1 final over Bates College on Saturday.
Improving to 6-1 overall and 2-0 in NESCAC, the #14 Jumbos only lost in second doubles against the Bobcats (3-8, 0-3). Five of the six singles matches were won by Tufts in straight sets.
Tufts defeated Babson College to open their spring home season on Thursday 9-0. They followed that up with an even more impressive 9-0 conference victory against Colby on Friday. Playing for a third straight day indoors on Saturday due to rain, Tufts' #1 doubles pair of Lauren Louks and Mina Karamercan won 8-0 for a strong start against Bates.
The Jumbos would take a 2-0 lead with an 8-1 win by the third doubles duo of Tomo Iwasaki and Zoe Miller. However, Bates cut the lead in half with an 8-4 win by Kate Rosenthal and Maisie Silverman in the middle match.
Tufts would sweep the singles matches to earn the decisive team win. A 6-1, 6-1 final by Karamercan at #2, a 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory by Conner Calabro in third singles, and a 6-0, 6-0 perfect game by Iwasaki at #4 sealed the Jumbos' win.
Louks went three sets at #1 to defeat Silverman 6-1, 2-6, 6-2. Junior Jacqueline Baum took a 6-1, 6-0 victory at #6 and Miller had a 6-3, 6-2 win at #5 to finish off the singles sweep for Tufts.
The Jumbos will face their best test yet in the New England portion of their spring schedule when they travel to #17 MIT on Wednesday. Bates hosts Bowdoin that day.
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