#3 Ephs down #4 Emory 5-4 to close out spring break trip at 6-1

Rookie head coach Alison Swain was hoping to find out just what kind of team she would have this spring with a tough spring break trip. Swain has to like what she has seen so far as her Ephs won 5-4 for the second day in a row over a nationally ranked team.

"The girls all went into the match knowing that every point would be huge and they committed themselves to playing aggressively," said Swain. "Even losing Lucy [Marchese] to injury we were able to pull the match out, showing once again the depth and strength of our lineup."

The Ephs closed out their spring break trip winning two of the final three matches that were all decided by a score of 5-4.

"It's great to end our spring break trip on a high note as a team," said Swain. "It was important for us to go out and beat two nationally ranked teams after we lost to Washington & Lee."

The Ephs are now 9-2 combined (fall and spring) and they have just completed a spring break trip that saw them rack up six wins against one loss. The lone loss came at the hands of the number one team in the nation – Washington & Lee – on the home courts of the Generals, 5-4.

The Eagles of Emory University entered the match today with a deceptive 6-7 record as many of their matches have been against teams that play at a higher level than Division III.

Williams took a 2-1 advantage after doubles play with wins at two and three. "After the way we've played doubles the past few days it was huge for us to be up 2-1 after doubles," stated Swain.

The Ephs and Eagles split the doubles matches and the match-deciding point came at number one singles where Cary Gibson took down Tshema Nash in three sets, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Next up for the Ephs is a showdown match with archrival second ranked Amherst on the road in Amherst on Saturday April 5th at 11:00 am.

#3 Williams 5, #4  Emory 4

Doubles:
1.  Tshema Nash/Sabra Rogers (E) def. Cary Gibson/Annie Schneidman (W) – 8-4
2.  Grace Baljon/Allie Rottkamp (W) def. Kirsten Hillock/Lorne McManigle (E) – 8-2
3.  Nikki Reich/Lucy Marchese (W) def. Leah Seyburn/Sara Vrabec (E) – 8-3

Exhibition:
4.    Allison Fick/Jenny Moscato (E) def. Geni Loomis/Katie Friedman (W) – 8-4

Singles:
1.    Gibson (W) def. Nash (E) – 4-6, 6-2, 604
2.    Baljon (W) def. Rogers (E) – 6-0, 6-1
3.    McManigle (E) def. Marchese (W) – 7-5, 2-4 (Marchese retired)
4.    Hillock (E)  def. Ashley Parsons (W) –  6-1, 6-2
5.     Rottkamp (W) def. Seyburn (E)  -- 6-0, 6-2
6.     Vrabec (E) def. Hancock (W) – 6-2, 5-7, 6-1

Exhibition
7.    Nikki Reich (W) def. Moscato (E) – 8-2
8.    Katrina Ferrara (W) def. Fick (E) – 8-0