MEDFORD – The sixth-ranked Tufts University women's tennis team swept its own version of a double-header on Saturday with an 8-1 victory over Bates College in NESCAC action at Voute Courts.
Earlier in the day, head coach Kate Bayard's team had posted an 8-1 win at Brandeis University. With the two victories, the Jumbos are now 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
Bates College, ranked #28 nationally, fell to 7-4 and 1-1 in the league.
The match got off to a roaring start for the Jumbos as the #1 doubles pair of Mina Karamercan and Otilia Popa won 8-1. They remained undefeated this spring at 8-0.
The Jumbos would take a 2-0 lead in the match as Zoe Miller and Kat Wiley combined on an 8-3 victory in third doubles. However, Bates avoided the doubles shutout with an 8-7 (7) win by Lauren Hernandez and Hannah Sweeney. It was the first time we've seen a 7-7 doubles tie-breaker - instituted experimentally this year - played in a Jumbo match.
Any momentum the Bobcats had with their third doubles win ended quickly in singles. Victories by Jumbos Lauren Louks at #3 (6-1, 6-0), Julia Keller at #6 (6-1, 6-1) and Kat Wiley on the fifth singles court (6-1, 6-0) secured the victory for Tufts.
Tufts did not lose a set in singles and gave up only 19 games. Freshman Patricia Obeid improved to 8-2 for the year with a 6-2, 6-2 win at #1. Tomo Iwasaki was a 6-3, 6-2 winner in fourth singles. Junior Mina Karamercan was the last off in singles with her 6-4, 6-2 final at #2. She improved to 7-1 this spring with her seventh consecutive singles win.
The Jumbos will hit the road for the next few weeks starting with next Friday's match at #13 MIT. Bates hosts Amherst College next Saturday.
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