Williams Tops Tufts, 8-1

MEFORD, MA - Coming off an impressive showing at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association tournament last weekend, the Williams women's tennis team handed Tufts a tough loss this afternoon. After taking two doubles points, the Ephs swept singles play to end with an 8-1 victory.

"I'm really glad we were able to continue our momentum from the ITAs last weekend," said Williams head coach Allison Swain. "We competed well and showed improvement across the board."

On doubles court one, Ephs Cary Gibson and Grace Baljon topped Andrea Cenko and Hayley Young of Tufts by a score of 8-1. Annie Schneidman and Lucy Marchese also earned a point for Williams, defeating Meghan McCooey and Grace Cascarilla Berry, 8-5. On court two, Allie Rottkamp and Nikki Reich dropped a close match in a tiebreaker to Julia Browne and Miranda Young 9-8 (7-5).

In exhibition play Williams earned two more victories, as Jane Kelley and Ashley Parsons of topped Jumbos Mari Homma and Erica Miller, 8-5, and Geni Loomis and Kathryn Friedman stole an 8-4 victory.

With a 2-1 lead going into singles play, the Ephs only got stronger. Heading up the lineup on court one, Williams junior Gibson topped McCooey in straight sets. Sophomore Baljon, playing on court two, also topped her Jumbo opponent in straight sets.

On court three, Eph first-year Marchese went head to head with Tufts' Browne. After taking the first set in a tiebreaker, Marchese dropped the second set. Marchese battled through the third set to take victory, defeating Browne 6-4.

Court four saw sophomore Williams' Parsons breeze by her opponent Miller, 6-1, 6-1. On courts five and six, Reich and Rottkamp also won in straight sets to round out the win for Williams.

Swain is happy with her team's play so far, noting, "We have more to go to reach our full potential, but that's very exciting. We are exactly where we think we should be at this point in the year."

Williams will host its first home match tomorrow, facing Little Three rival Wesleyan.

"We would love some home crowd support for our first home match," said Swain. "We're looking forward to carrying our momentum from today into the match tomorrow.

DOUBLES

1. Gibson/Baljon (W) d. Cenko/H. Young, 8-1

2. Brown/H. Young (T) d. Rottkamp/Reich, 9-8 (7-5)

3. Schneidman/Marchese (W) def. McCooey/Cascarilla, 8-5

4. Kelley/Parsons (W) d. Homma/Miller, 8-4

5. Loomis/Friedman (W) d. Hoguet/Stewart, 8-4

SINGLES

1. Gibson (W) d. McCooey, 6-3, 7-5

2. Baljon (W) d. Cascarilla, 6-1, 6-2

3. Marchese (W) d. Browne, 7-6 (7-0), 3-6, 6-4

4. Parsons (W) d. d. Miller, 6-1, 6-1

5. Reich (W) d. Cenko, 7-6 (7-4), 6-0

6. Rotkamp (W) d. Homma, 6-2, 6-0

7. Schneidman (W) d. d. Stewart, 6-2, 6-0

8. Friedman (W) d. Gentzler 8-3

9. Loomis (W) d. Hoguet, 6-1, 6-0

10. Gentzler (T) d. Kelley, 8-3