MEDFORD - The #6 Tufts University women's tennis team defeated #8 ranked Amherst on Tuesday afternoon by a score of 5-4. The event, which was tied heading into the last match, was played indoors at the Gantcher Center.
Amherst started strong, taking the first two doubles matches. Mammoths pair Camille Smukler and Maddie Dewire defeated Zoe Miller and Kat Wiley 8-4 at No. 3 doubles. Jane Fraley and Vickie Ip followed that up by taking down Tufts duo Lauren Louks and Patricia Obeid 9-8 (6) at No. 2.
Mina Karamercan and Otilia Popa responded for the Jumbos at No. 1, earning a 9-7 victory over Avery Wagman and Anya Ivenitsky.
The two teams traded wins in singles play as well. Tomo Iwasaki defeated Dewire at No. 3 singles, winning by a 6-3, 6-0 score. Karamercan, #21 in ITA rankings, earned her second victory of the day at No. 1, topping #10 ranked Smukler 6-4, 6-2. Ivenitsky responded for Amherst at No. 4, taking down Zoe Miller in a back and forth contest 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 and evening the match score at 3-3.
Wiley bounced back from an earlier doubles loss to defeat Wagman 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5, giving Tufts a 4-3 match advantage. Mammoths sophomore Camille Smukler knotted the match at 4-4, besting Tufts' Julia Keller 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6. Louks used three sets to clinch the victory for Tufts at No. 2 singles, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The Jumbos are off until April 28, when they face off at home against Williams at 9:00 a.m. Amherst is back in action on Saturday, traveling to play Wesleyan at 10:00 a.m.
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