Eph doubles (Gibson/Reich) & singles (Baljon) ousted in round of 16 at NCAAs

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA – Williams junior Grace Baljon, the Ephs #1 singles player, eliminated Denison's #2 singles player Kristin Cobb in straight sets in the NCAA Singles Tournament opening round this morning and advanced to the round of 16.

Baljon won 6-2, 6-0 over Cobb and advanced to meet fourth-seeded Julia Browne of Tufts.

"The first round of singles play after the team tournament is tough, because you are always tired and you never know what can happen," noted Eph head coach Alison Swain. "Grace did a great job of keeping the ball in and keeping her head in the match. She was very focused."

Baljon and Browne met in a dual match won by the Ephs back on April 11 and Browne defeated Baljon in straight sets 6-1, 6-0.

The Baljon and Browne match was halted due to weather at 1:15 PM with Browne leading in the first set 4-3. Baljon tied the first set at four, but Browne took the next two games and the set, 6-4. In the second set Baljon kept battling back, but could not tie or assume control of the set and eventually lost 7-5. "Grace fought off six match points and she played tough throughout, but you have to give credit to Julia [Browne] for closing it out," stated Swain.

By virtue of her first round win Baljon achieved All-America honors in singles for the second year in a row..

Senior captain Cary Gibson and sophomore Nikki Reich, the Ephs top doubles team, was seeded fourth in the NCAA Doubles Tournament. Gibson/Reich were paired against unseeded Greer Mackie and Kayla Smith of DePauw in the round of 16 teams. The match was scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM, but was pushed back due to the weather delay and the tournament being forced indoors

Gibson/Reich captured the first set 6-4, but trailed 3-2 with the serve in the second set. Mackie and Smith won a tiebreaker to take the second set 7-6 (2) to force a third set. The DePauw duo took a 3-2 lead in the deciding set as well and went on to post a 6-4 win.

"Our chair umpire said after the match that it was the best doubles match she has seen at the tournament," said Swain. "It was a pleasure to watch with both teams attacking throughout."

"I could not be prouder of these girls and my team – they really competed," said Swain.

Gibson and Swain as New England ITA Champions in the fall portion of the season had already earned All-America honors for the year. Gibson closes out her career having garnered All-American honors in doubles all four years and twice earning honors in singles play. This was Reich's first national honor.