WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Sophomore Leah Bush posted a match-clinching win at the No. 2 singles slot for the No. 4 Williams College women's tennis team during a 7-2 triumph over No. 6 Tufts University on Saturday in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
The Jumbos (13-5, 6-3 in NESCAC) finished the 2017 regular season with 13 wins, which is the most by the program since the 2010-11 season (16 wins). The Ephs (12-4, 6-1 in NESCAC) went 5-1 on the singles side and 2-1 during the doubles competition on Saturday.
The match started out well for the Jumbos, as sophomores Tomo Iwasaki and Otilia Popa compiled a commanding 8-1 victory over senior captain Hannah Atkinson and freshman Chloe Henderson at the No. 2 slot. The Ephs were up to the challenge, as they responded with five consecutive wins.
Junior Julia Cancio and freshman Emily Zheng opened up the spurt, winning 8-6 against senior captains Alexa Meltzer and Conner Calabro at the third slot. There was a great deal of firepower at the No. 1 doubles flight, with junior Juli Raventos and senior captain Linda Shin squaring off against junior Lauren Louks and sophomore Mina Karamercan, but Raventos and Shin prevailed by a score of 8-6.
Atkinson opened singles action, outlasting Iwasaki in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0, at the No. 3 slot. Cancio rattled off her second win of the match, besting Meltzer, 6-2, 6-1, at the fifth slot.
Bush then rose to the occasion with her match-clinching effort, outdoing Louks, 6-3, 6-3, during No. 2 singles action. Calabro showcased her skill set at the No. 6 slot, downing Zheng, 6-1, in the first set, and then fighting her way to a 7-5 victory in the second.
Karamercan against Raventos was a must-see match at the No. 1 slot for any tennis fan. Raventos delivered the first blow with a 6-4 first-set win, and then Karamercan posted a 6-2 triumph in the second with her back against the wall. Raventos was victorious in the decisive superbreaker, 10-4.
Junior Mia Gancayco concluded the match with a 6-3, 7-5 win over freshman Katherine Wiley at the fourth slot.
Next on the radar for the Jumbos will be the NESCAC Championship on Friday, May 5, to Sunday, May 7, at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Written by Trevor Wenners, Athletic Communications Intern
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