Ephs Strong on First Day of ITA Tournament

Cambridge, MA – The Ephs put their regional rivals on notice Friday advancing three individual players and all three doubles teams to the round of sixteen at the International Tennis Association (ITA) Division III New England Championship at MIT’s duPont Tennis Courts. The ITA is the governing body of collegiate tennis.

Boasting two seeded teams with Nikki Reich/Cary Gibson receiving the top slot and the first-year team of Kristin Alotta/Taylor French in a 5-8 position, the Ephs continued their winning ways in doubles. Reich and Gibson overcame their NESCAC opponents from Bates 8-4. Alotta and French easily overcame a home team MIT 8-1. Annie Hancock and Ashley Parsons also faced off against conference rival Connecticut College and won 8-4.

“It was a long day in the rain,” said Coach Alison Swain. “But the girls are in good spirits.” 

Their enthusiasm parlayed into a solid singles effort as three Ephs advanced through the first two rounds of play. Cary Gibson led the way. Seeded first in the singles draw and the runner up in last spring’s Division III singles tournament, the co-captain soundly defeated her first two opponents. She will play teammate Alotta in the round of 16 on Saturday. 

Alotta beat two non-conference foes in Ashley Fallon of Mt. Holyoke and Joy Backer of Vassar to advance. Annie Hancock and Katie Friedman also defeated their first round opponents but suffered losses to seeded opponents in the second round.

Looking to the next rounds, Coach Swain said that “the girls are excited for a challenge.”

Play continues at MIT on Saturday.

DOUBLES:

Nikki Reich/Cary Gibson (W) def. Courtney Farrell/Heather Walsh (Bates) 8-4

Kristin Alotta/Taylor French (W) def. Melissa Diskin/Anisa McCree (MIT) 8-1

Annie Hancock/Ashley Parsons (W) def. Alicia Cauteruccio/Becca Huepel (Conn.) 8-4

SINGLES:

Round of 64

Cary Gibson (W) def. Melissa Diskin (MIT) 6-0, 6-0

Kristin Alotta (W) def. Ashley Fallon (Mt. H) 6-1, 6-1
Nikki Reich (W) def. Becca Huepel (Conn.) 6-0, 6-0

Annie Hancock (W) def. Madalina Ursu (Wes.) 6-1, 6-2

Katie Friedman (W) def. Sarah Gould (Trinity) 6-0, 6-1

Clarissa King (Amherst) def. Ashley Parsons (W) 6-1, 6-3

Round of 32

Cary Gibson (W) def. Jennifer Levet (Trinity) 6-1, 6-0

Kristin Alotta (W) def. Joy Backer (Vassar) 6-0, 6-3

Nikki Reich (W) def. Jacqueline Shen (Wellesley) 6-3, 6-0

Natasha Brown (Amherst) def. Annie Hancock (W) 6-0, 6-3

Marie Watanabe (Wellesley) def. Katie Friedman (W) 6-0, 6-1