MEDFORD, MA (March 29, 2024) -- The No. 25 Tufts University women's tennis team, down 4-1 during single's action, rallied back for a thrilling and important non-conference victory as the Jumbos topped No. 11 Babson College 5-4 Friday afternoon in a six-hour marathon inside Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center on the campus of Tufts University.
The Jumbos (3-5) earned the important regional victory thanks to key victories at the bottom four spots in the ladder. Junior
Sophie Wax helped kickstart the comeback for the Jumbos, as she fought back from a 6-0 loss in the first set to earn a 0-6, 7-6 (6), 6-0 win at No. 3 to earn her second straight singles' win.
Sophomore
Lucy Mitchell kept the momentum going at No. 4 singles as she fought off a second-set push by Chaniel Soffer to earn a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 three-set victory to make the score 4-3 in favor of the visitors. First-year
Natalie Hu was able to deadlock the match at four wins apiece at No. 5 singles, as she knocked off Laetitiz Rizk 7-5, 6-3.
The final match to conclude was the decider, and sophomore
Steffy Jullian found herself in another big spot as she also clinched the win earlier in the season against Kenyon College. On Friday, Jullian won the opening set 6-4 before falling 6-2 in the second to force a third set for the match. Babson's Elena Keitt would push out to a 5-2 lead in the third set, coming within a game of the match for the Beavers (6-2), but Jullian found her rhythm and won the last five games to post a 7-5 win in the final set to earn the team victory.
The Jumbos had to climb back into the match after falling behind 2-1 in doubles, though Jullian and Wax paired together at No. 3 doubles to earn an 8-4 victory. Hu and
Stephanie Woodbury played well at No. 2 doubles, but fell 8-7 (4) to finish up the doubles' portion of the match. Babson earned straight set wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles to set up the comeback by the Jumbos.
Tufts will not have much time to rest up, as the Jumbos welcome in Bates College Saturday at 2 p.m. in New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) play in Medford.
--JUMBOS--
