WILLIAMSTOWN, MA (April 28, 2023) -- The Tufts University women's tennis team, ranked No. 10 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Top 40 poll and seeded No. 4, were topped in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Quarterfinals by host and No. 5 seed Williams College 5-1 in action from the Hunt Tennis Center Friday afternoon.
With the loss, the Jumbos (8-9) will have to wait and see if it will be selected as a Pool C bid into the NCAA Tournament, which will be announced in a NCAA Selection Show at noon on NCAA.com. Tufts is currently sixth in the most recent Region 1 rankings.
The Jumbos fell behind Friday afternoon after a loss at No. 3 doubles, as
Stephanie Woodbury and
Lucy Mitchell fell to Annabelle Siegel and Mia Thomann 8-2. Tufts evened the match at a win apiece as Michelle Lim and
Zoe Kava bested Ananya Aggerwal and Jane Ladaga 8-4. The Ephs (12-5) would pick up the final doubles points at the No. 1 position, as Katherine Orgielewicz and Yuu Ishikawa outlasted
Rachel Cranley and Maddie Suk 8-7 to give Williams a 2-1 edge heading into singles.
Williams extended its lead to 3-1 with a win at No. 4 singles, as Mitchell was topped by Siegel in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1. The other five matches were thrillers but unfortunately for the Jumbos, Williams was able to pick up the final two points to end the match at 5-1. Ishikawa pushed by Wax 7-6, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot, and Orgielewicz helped clinch the win with a 6-2, 7-6 win at No. 1.
The match was ended when the clinching point occurred, but Lim was in a thrilling match at No. 6 in the third set before the halt. Kava was also in the third set but her match was called at 4-6, 6-2, 4-5.
Williams advances to take on top-seed Middlebury College Saturday at 9 a.m. at Williams. Amherst College defeated Bowdoin College 5-1 on the other side of the bracket, setting up the other semifinal with Wesleyan University after its 5-1 win over Hamilton.
--JUMBOS--
