Both the Middlebury men’s and women’s tennis teams faced nationally-ranked opponents at home on Saturday, April 11. The sixth-ranked men’s team ousted second-ranked Emory by a score of 6-3. With the victory the squad improves to 14-2 overall while boasting an impressive 6-0 record at home.
Also facing a top-10 team, the eighth-ranked women fell to number one Williams by a score of 7-2. The defeat was the fourth of the season for the women and their first to a NESCAC opponent.
The men’s team secured an outstanding 6-3 decision against a visiting Emory squad to defend their undefeated record. The team got off to a winning start, earning points in two of the day’s three doubles matches. Palmer Campbell ’15 and Peter Heidrich ’15, ranked sixth in the region as a doubles pairing, started the day for the Panthers, ultimately earning an 8-3 victory in the top flight. The number three doubles match went in favor of Emory, as Chris Frost ’15 and William de Quant ’18 were unable to overcome their opponents and fell by a score of 8-2. With the overall match score notched at one apiece, Ari Smolyar ’16 and Noah Farrell ’18 rounded out the Panther performance and allowed the team to take the lead with an 8-5 win at number two heading into the singles competition.
The singles matches featured a number of regionally-ranked players from both teams. Allen Jackson ’16 fell in the sixth spot to Emory’s Aman Manji by a score of 6-0, 6-4. Playing fifth and first, respectively, de Quant and Smolyar both picked up victories as the match swung to 4-2 in favor of the Panthers. The Eagles improved their score to 4-3 as the number three match saw Rafe Mosetick edge out Campbell in three sets. The final two matches of the day saw Middlebury win in three sets with wins by Jackson Frons ’16 and Farrell. Frons clinched his match by scores of 6-2, 6-7 (5-7) and 6-1 to earn a point at the number four position and Farrell won in 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 fashion after dropping the first set.
“It was a really big win for us beating the number 2 team in the country,” Smolyar said. “After losing a nail biter to Emory last year it was great to not only get the win, but to see all of my teammates compete hard and battle for each and every point.”
The men will travel to face eighth-ranked Bowdoin this coming Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Middlebury women’s tennis team fell last weekend to NESCAC rival Williams by a score of 7-2. The Ephs came out to a strong start, securing wins in all three doubles matches. Ria Gerger ’16 and Lily Bondy ’17, who are currently ranked eighth in the region, fell to the regions third-ranked duo from Williams by a score of 8-2. In similar fashion, Lauren Amos ’16 and Alexandra Fields ’17 were defeated by a score of 8-3. Jennifer Sundstrom ’17 and Kaysee Orozco ’17 were also unable to oust their Williams opponents and dropped the number two match by a score of 8-4.
The Panthers were able to pick up a pair of points in the singles matches, starting with a fighting victory by Gerger to improve her individual winning streak to five. Gerger battled from losing the first set to secure a victory by a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. Margot Marchese ’16 fell 6-2, 6-3 at the number five position as Williams improved their lead to 4-1 overall. The fifth and decisive point for Williams came in the second spot matchup featuring Fields. Unable to gain the upper hand, Fields fell 7-5, 6-2 to seal the Panthers’ fate against a formidable in-conference opponent.
Katie Paradies ’15 recorded the second point for Middlebury on the day, earning the victory via a 6-4, 2-6, 10-7 triumph at the number six spot. Bondy lost the number three singles match and Orozco was defeated at number four to round out the matches for the day.
With the loss the Panthers sit at 7-4 overall and 2-1 in NESCAC play. The team will play again on Saturday, April 18 when they travel to number 10 Bowdoin for another highly contested conference match.
