Ephs advance to national title match; defeat Pomona-Pitzer, 5-2
ST. PETER, Minnesota - Women’s tennis has positioned themselves exactly where they have wanted to be since Day 1 of the 2008 spring season—in contention for a national title. The #3 Ephs (19-4) faced off against #10 Pomona-Pitzer (17-7), and struggled early in doubles play before composing themselves and storming ahead to win the match, 5-2, and a spot in the finals of the NCAA Tournament.
Williams appeared to be in control of two of the three doubles matches. Nikki Reich and Annie Hancock quickly wrapped up a victory at court three, 8-2, while Grace Baljon and Allie Rottkamp led their opponents, 7-3.
Before the match finished at court two, Cary Gibson and Annie Schneidman lost at court one, 8-6. Pomona-Pitzer, fueled by their teammates victory at court one, rattled off the next five games of the match against Baljon and Rottkamp. The match headed into a tiebreak and saw the Ephs fall behind 2-1.
A tall task lay ahead for the Ephs as they needed to win four of six singles matches to take the match. The team was not intimidated at all, and established a positive tone in singles play from the get-go. Nikki Reich continued to contribute in her first year as an Eph, knotting the score at 2-2 after a 6-4, 6-1 win at court four. With a 6-2, 6-2 win at court five, Allie Rottkamp took the lead for Williams. Straight set victories from Annie Hancock and Ashley Parsons followed quickly.
“Totally thrilling” were the first words that Williams’ head coach Alison Swain used to describe the Eph victory. “The match was intense, and we played great," she said. "I think it was a good lesson for us to be down 2-1 going into singles play. Every person in singles took it upon themselves to play as best and as tough as they could to earn their point.”
The Ephs await the winner of #1 Washington and Lee (26-0) and #5 Denison (20-3) in tomorrow’s final at 1:00 pm (CST). If Washington and Lee should take the match, it will be a chance for redemption for Williams who lost to the Generals in last year’s Final Four.
Williams 5, Pomona-Pitzer 2
Doubles:
1) Siobhan Finicane/Olivia Muesse (P) def. Cary Gibson/Annie Schneidman (W) --- 8-6
2) Rebecca Lange/Kasyn Stevenson (P) def. Grace Baljon/Allison Rottkamp (W) --- 9-8
3) Nikki Reich/Annie Hancock (W) def. Zoe Fisher/Alex Margolin (P) --- 8-2
Singles:
1) Gibson (W) led. Finicane (P) --- 0-6, 6-2, 4-3 DNF
2) Baljon (W) led. Lange (P) --- 6-0, 3-6, 3-1 DNF
3) Ashley Parsons (W) def. Muesee (P) --- 6-3, 6-3
4) Reich (W) def. Myers (P) --- 6-4, 6-1
5) Rottkamp (W) def. Clough (P) --- 6-2, 6-2
6) Hancock (W) def. Stevenson (P) --- 6-2, 6-1
