MANCHESTER, CT (March 2, 2025) -- In a match that embodied the grit, resilience, and sheer heart of Tufts University women's tennis, the 14th-ranked Jumbos came up just short against No. 13 Amherst in the NESCAC Tournament quarterfinals on Friday, falling 4-3 at the Magic Lincer Tennis Club.
Despite the narrow loss, Tufts (15-5) left everything on the court in a high-stakes showdown that saw three singles matches go the full three sets and two tiebreaks in doubles. In a contest where every point mattered, the Jumbos made a powerful statement about their toughness and depth, nearly toppling a rival just one spot above them in the national rankings.
The match opened with a tense doubles session where Amherst grabbed the early momentum. Tufts' top pairing of
Sophie Wax and
Natalie Hu pushed the nationally ranked #15 team of Dounchis and Friedman to the brink, but ultimately fell 7-6 (7-2) in a match that swung on a few key points.
On Court 3, Woodbury and Mitchell gave the Jumbos a spark with a well-earned 6-4 win, but Amherst locked up the doubles point with a 6-2 win on Court 2, giving them a crucial 1-0 lead heading into singles play.
Tufts' comeback spirit was on full display in the singles lineup, none more so than at the top of the order, where first-year
Melanie Woodbury (#36) delivered one of the gutsiest performances of her career. After dropping the opening set 1-6 to Amherst's Lily Dounchis (#42), Woodbury clawed her way back to take the second set 7-5 and then edged a pressure-packed third-set tiebreaker 7-6 (7-5), giving Tufts a crucial point and igniting her teammates.
First-year standout
Athena Li continued her breakout season with a gritty three-set win on Court 4, overcoming a second-set stumble to defeat Sophie Diop 6-2, 3-6, 7-5. Sophomore
Brooklyn Bindas also came up big on Court 6, holding off a fierce rally from Cody Huang to prevail 6-2, 7-6 (10-8) in straight sets and put the Jumbos in striking distance.
But Amherst picked up key wins at #2, #3, and #5 singles. Despite strong efforts from
Ellie Gershaw and
Lucy Mitchell, both fell in hard-fought battles, and Amherst's narrow edge proved decisive.
While the result was a heartbreak for Tufts, the performance underscored the team's resilience and postseason potential. With a likely NCAA Tournament berth still ahead, the Jumbos will have an opportunity to regroup and make a deep national run.
--JUMBOS--
