MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Senior Alexandra Fields recorded a match-clinching win during No. 1 singles for the No. 9 Middlebury College women's tennis team, as the Panthers swept No. 7 Tufts University, 9-0, on Sunday in Middlebury, Vermont.
This was a highly-anticipated matchup, as both programs have been powerhouses this year among the NCAA Division III landscape. The Panthers (6-3, 3-0 in the NESCAC) opened the match with three straight wins in doubles action, and then went 6-0 on the singles side against the Jumbos (8-2, 2-1 in NESCAC).
Sophomore Christina Puccinelli and Fields opened the match with a dominant performance during No. 3 doubles, defeating senior captain Conner Calabro and freshman Katherine Wiley, 8-0. Senior Kaysee Orozco and freshman Catherine Blazye handed an 8-2 loss to junior Lauren Louks and sophomore Otilia Popa during No. 2 doubles.
Sophomores Mina Karamercan and Julia Keller tried to turn the tables for the Jumbos during the No. 3 flight, but the pair was ultimately outlasted by freshman Skylar Schossberger and freshman Katherine Hughes, 8-5.
Senior captain Alexa Meltzer and Blazye squared off against each other during No. 4 singles, with Blazye cruising to a 6-1, 6-3 triumph, giving the Panthers a 4-0 advantage. Fields sealed the deal for the hosts at the No. 1 slot, downing Karamercan, 6-4, 6-2.
Sophomore Molly Paradies was victorious in the fifth spot against Keller, 6-3, 6-3, and then Puccinelli posted a straight-set victory, 6-3, 6-2, against Louks during No. 2 singles. Freshman Heather Boehm suited up in the third slot, recording a 6-1, 6-4 win against Wiley.
Calabro performed admirably for the Jumbos at the No. 6 slot, as she won second-set action, 7-6 (3), after losing the first set, 6-1, to Schossberger. Schossberger went on to win the battle with a 10-6 advantage during the superbreaker.
The Jumbos will be back in action on Tuesday with a 4 p.m. showdown against MIT in Medford, Massachusetts.
Written by Trevor Wenners, Athletic Communications Intern
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