Roche '07 leads Panthers through ITA invite

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The Middlebury College women's tennis team traveled to Bowdoin for the International Tennis Association (ITA) Regional Tennis Tournament - an individual rather than a team tournament. The 64-person bracket included many top ranked New England players and it gave the Panthers a great chance to play against some of the best players in the east.

"The ITA tournament will give our players chances for some good competition," said Captain Maren Messing '06.

Amy Roche '07, the defending NESCAC champion, dominated the tournament and captured the singles title. Roche lost only nine of 85 games throughout the course of the weekend. She continued her strong play in the championship match with a 6-1, 6-1 win.

Following her victory, Roche earned an automatic bid to the 2005 ITA National Small College Championships at Florida Gulf Coast University which will be held on Oct. 13-16. Her first-place finish also earned her another All-American title.

First-year Elizabeth Emery gave a solid performance in her first ITA Regional Tournament as well. She had three wins before falling in the quarterfinals 6-3, 6-0. Amy Berkman '08 won in the first round but fell in the second.

Roche and Emery were also very successful as doubles partners. They made it to the championship match but were unable to emerge on top. They lost the title match 8-6.

The Panthers are eager for their upcoming matches against Tufts and Williams. They face Tufts this weekend at home and the match "is very important because it will establish us as the team to beat if we were to beat Tufts," says Emily Holick '07.

After playing Tufts and Williams, the Panthers will head to the New England Women's Invitational Tennis Tournament as defending champions.

"We hope that our season this fall will match our undefeated fall season last year," said Amanda Berck '08.

If these Middlebury Panthers continue to play the way they have so far this fall 2005 season, they will certainly deserve another NEWITT title.