Close matches on Day 2 of ITA Tournament

Cambridge, MA – The Ephs faced tough opposition on Day 2 of competition at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division III New England Championships at MIT’s duPont Tennis Courts. The round of 16 and quarterfinal rounds of both singles and doubles play were held today.

Senior co-captain Cary Gibson led the way for the Ephs. Teaming up with Nikki Reich ’10, the duo advanced through both rounds of play today. They were the only Williams team to do so. “Nikki and Cary played hard today through some hard matches,” said Coach Alison Swain. The two were challenged by the combination of Laura Danzig/Jill Wexler from the archrival Amherst squad. Tied 8-8, the Ephs fought and prevailed 7-2 in a tiebreaker.

The Eph team of Annie Hancock/Ashley Parsons went up against the top team from Amherst, Brittany Berckes/Alicia Menezes. The Amherst team was the winner of this tournament last year. Kristin Alotta/Taylor French fell in the quarterfinals to a team from Bowdoin. In the round of 16 they beat the Vassar team of Joy Backer/Krista Romita for the second time this year.

Reich and Gibson also faced stiff competition in their singles play. In the all-Eph match of Gibson and Kristin Alotta ’12, the score was split after the first two games, demonstrating the parity and strength of the team. In the super tie-breaker, Gibson beat out Alotta 10-4. Gibson went on to play Amherst foe Natasha Brown in the quarterfinals. Gibson vanquished the Lord Jeff in a three set match. Reich also faced a NESCAC rival in the quarterfinals in Tufts’ Julia Browne. In a very close match, Browne won 6-4, 7-5. 

“We played well,” said Coach Swain. “We still have things to work on, but it is good to be pushed and to pushed back.”

Gibson and Reich play Sunday, the last day of competition, in the semifinals of the doubles draw and Gibson pulls double duty playing in the same round of the singles matches.