Written by Ben Lable, Athletic Communications Student Intern

MIDDLEBURY, VT (May 8, 2026) - After falling in the quarterfinals of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championship last weekend, the No. 20 Tufts University women's tennis team responded in dominant fashion Friday afternoon, sweeping Hartwick College 4-0 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament. The two teams met for the first time ever at host site Middlebury College.

Hartwick had played only three matches during the spring season, but secured its NCAA Tournament bid in the fall after winning the Empire 8 Championship. Tufts earned an at-large selection thanks to a 12-6 record that included victories over multiple top-15 opponents.

The Jumbos saw very little resistance in doubles play, clinching the doubles point in just 15 minutes. Ellie Gershaw and Nicole Kintiroglou were first off the court at No. 3 doubles, defeating Elise Beauharnois and Gianna Leggieri 6-0. One minute later, Claudia Grove and Melanie Woodbury matched that scoreline with a 6-0 win over Madeline Morrison and Margaret Van Valkenburgh at No. 2 doubles. Tufts also held the lead at No. 1 doubles when play was halted.

In singles, the Jumbos maintained their momentum and did not drop a single game in any completed set. Gershaw was first to finish, defeating Van Valkenburgh 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3 singles. Kyra McCandless followed with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Leggieri, before Kintiroglou clinched the match with a 6-0, 6-0 win against Beauharnois at No. 6 singles. Tufts was leading in the remaining three singles matches when the contest ended.

Tufts will return to the courts Saturday at 2 p.m. to face No. 12 Middlebury in the second round. Earlier this season, the Jumbos hosted the Panthers in Medford and fell 5-2 in a match that was closer than the final score indicated. That loss dropped Tufts to 1-16 in its last 17 meetings with Middlebury, giving the Jumbos an opportunity to reverse that trend and advance to the third round for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

Middlebury received a first-round bye and will play its first match of the tournament against Tufts.