Ephs top #8 Pomona-Pitzer 7-2 to finish undefeated in California
Lucy Marchese '11
CLAREMONT, CA – The Ephs and the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer opened their match with singles play and Williams asserted itself by claiming five of the six matches and wrapping up the win before doubles play began.
The Ephs won two of three double matches to down the 8th-ranked Sagehens 7-2 and in the process upped their season record to 7-1. Williams has now won five matches in a row, while Pomona-Pitzer falls to 8-5 with the loss.
Cary Gibson, the Ephs’ top singles player pushed third-ranked Siobhan Finicane to three sets before losing. Gibson suffered a slight injury in the match and served underhanded in doubles play later to avoid having to forfeit the match and to lessen the chance of adding to her injury.
Gibson and Annie Schneidman gave Finicane and Olivia Muesse, the reigning ITA National Small College champions, a run for their money despite Gibson not being able to use her normal serve as Finnicane/Muesse prevailed 8-6.
“We were feisty today,” commented Eph head coach Alison Swain. “We played much more aggressively today on the big points and that made the difference in the match. California has been a great start on preparing for how we want to play in April and May – we’re getting better.”
The Ephs’ next match will be back on the East coast when they play Washington & Lee University (W & L) on March 27th at 4:00 pm in their first match of the Fab Five Tournament. W&L is hosting the Fab Five Tournament on their campus in Lexington, VA.
“We have a day of rest tomorrow before going to Virginia,” said Swain. “We’re anxious to see what the other top teams in Division III look like.”
Doubles:
1. Siobahn Finicane/Olivia Muesse (P) def. Cary Gibson/Annie Schneidman (W) – 8-6
2. Allison Rottkamp/Grace Baljon (W) def. Becca Lange/Kasyn Stevenson (P) – 8-0
3. Lucy Marchese/Nikki Reich (W) def. Zoe
Fisher/Alex Margolin (P) – 8-3
Exhibition:
4. Annie Hancock/Ashley Parsons (W) def. Chloe Schaefer/Kathryn Myers (P) – 8-5.
5. Geni Loomis/Katie Friedman (W) def. Amanda Ghassaei/Jen Liao (P) – 8-2
Singles:
1. Finicane (P) def. Gibson (W) – 5-7, 6-2, 6-0
2. Baljon (W) def. Lange (P) – 7-6 (7-3), 6-2
3. Marchese (W) def. Muesse (P) – 6-3, 6-2
4. Ashley Parsons (W) def. Myers (P) – 6-1, 6-0
5. Reich (W) def. Schaefer (P) – 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
6. Rottkamp (W) def. Lindsay Clough (P) – 6-3, 6-0
Exhibition:
7. Annie Hancock (W) def. Jenn Wilcox (P) – 8-0
8. Annie Schneidman (W) def. Fisher (P) – 8-3
9. Geni Loomis (W) def. Ghassaei (P) – 8-0
10. Katrina Ferrara (W) def. Liao (P) – 8-0
11. Katie Friedman (W) def. Katie Cettie (P) – 8-1
