Ephs take one Doubles title, three Singles titles at NEWITTS

AMHERST, MA - To close out their Fall campaign, the Williams women took home crowns in four flights of the New England Women's Intercollegiate Tennis Tournament. Coach Alison Swain was happy with the team's performance.

"Overall the tournament was a very successful culmination to our fall season.  Every single player played deep into their 
respective draws, and we came home up with some very big tennis in the finals," Swain said. "Being able to take away so many first and second place finishes is a testament to the depth of the team this year, and a lot of hard work over the past two months."

First-year duo of Lucy Marchese and Nikki Reich topped Stein and Murphy of Amherst, 8-2, to take the flight three championship. Eph doubls pairs Cary Gibson and Grace Baljon, and seniors Annie Scheidman and Allie Rottkamp, playing in flight one and two respectively, both fell in the finals to take second place for the Ephs. Gibson and Baljon fell to the top seeded pair from Amherst.

Marchese saw more success in singles, topping Waldman of Bowdoin and Browne of Tufts on her way to taking the flight three crown. Also finishing at the top of her flight was sophomore Baljon. Playing in flight two, Baljon topped Davis of Bowdoin and McCooey of Tufts in straight sets. Rounding out the top finishers for Ephs was sophomore Ashley Parsons, who defeated Pedowitz of Bowdoin before blanking Carlissa King of Amherst en route to stealing the flight five crown.

On top of the three singles titles, the Ephs took home two second place finishes as well. Reich topped Stubbelbine of Wellesley before falling to Amherst's Snyder in the flight four finals, and Schneidman topped Brandeis' Katz before falling to Amherst's Murphy in a close three set decision on flight six.

Swain was pleased with her teams undoubtedly impressive play, but believes the team can be even better. "I wouldn't say we are at your peak yet, this tournament definitely displayed very impressive play by the Williams team," she said. "We are heading into the off-season with a lot of momentum, and a good understanding of what we will be working on so that we can be competing at our highest level this spring."