With a 5-4 score, Williams left sore

Author: Maeve McGilloway

The women's tennis team gained an important win over the fifth-ranked Ephs of Williams College last Thursday. The Panthers continued their success two days later, defeating Amherst College with an impressive 5-4 win, a definite improvement from last spring and fall's 6-3 losses.

Middlebury enjoyed a home-court advantage en route to handing Williams its first loss of the season in 5-4 fashion.

In singles play, Captain Amy Roche '07 won at the first seed 6-3, 6-1. Claire Smyser '08 was able to edge out her opponent in second singles winning 6-4, 6-3. Elizabeth Emery '09 clinched the Panthers' third singles victory at fourth singles 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

The Ephs won the three other singles matches, and the doubles courts were where the Panthers punctuated the equilibrium.

"Midd just jumped out to a quick lead early on in the doubles," said Williams Coach Julie Greenwood, "and big matches tend to hinge on that doubles advantage."

On the first doubles court was Roche and Smyser. Just moments before their match, Smyser asked her partner if she was ready to go. Roche confidently returned, "Let's go, Gadget!" But neither of the players needed Inspector Gadget's help as the dynamic duo overwhelmed their opponents and won 8-3.

The talented twosome of Emily Holick '07 and Clare Burke '09 had a close match on the third doubles court, but edged out an 8-6 win. The win was the fifth and clinching match for the Panthers. Go-go Middlebury doubles!

Saturday the Panthers brought their 8-2 season record to Mount Holyoke College where they prepared to face Amherst's Lord Jeffs. The team faced the dual challenges of a long road trip to Amherst and poor weather conditions. The obstacles, however, did not hinder Middlebury's team as it overpowered the NESCAC rival.

Burke and Holick played tremendously throughout the day, combining for a doubles victory, and then also securing victories in the singles matches. Both women were the only two players to win in both formats.

In doubles play, Holick and Burke snuck out an 8-6 win. The highly competitive play continued in singles. Both women took the first set 6-1, but then had to turn up their play to secure victories. Holick, at the fifth singles seed, dropped her second set 4-6, but closed the match by running away with the final set and winning 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. Burke, meanwhile, needed a tiebreaker in the second set to win 6-1, 7-6.

Roche and Emery went on to clinch the team's overall victory on Saturday by winning their respective individual matches.

"After losing to Amherst in the fall," said Emery, "it was really exciting to have this win."

Middlebury has not beaten Amherst in a long time, so the win was not only redemption for the team, but also a statement to the rest of the league that first year Coach Mike Morgan and his Panthers will be major players in the NESCAC and beyond.

Facing its two biggest NESCAC opponents in a matter of 48 hours and succeeding in both matches reveals a lot about the strength, capability and potential of the Middlebury College women's tennis team.

The Panthers look to extend their winning streak when they return to action on April 14 at Bowdoin College at 11 a.m.