From Washington University Athletics
Trailing 2-1 after doubles, the No. 9-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women's tennis team won four straight singles matches, including the clinching three-set win by senior Betsy Edershile at No. 5 singles, to advance to the NCAA Division III Championship Quarterfinal for the second year in a row and third time in school history with a 5-2 victory over No. 11 DePauw University Saturday afternoon at Tao Tennis Center.
"We knew DePauw would be really tough in doubles. We knew we needed to get one point and we got that point," ninth-year head coach Kelly Stahlhuth said. "We also knew we are tough in singles, and once we started playing, the team really believed in themselves. Every match was a battle, even the two-setters were like three-setters. I was thrilled to have the seniors on the court at the end because I knew one of them was going to do it. I told the team before the match that I was proud of them no matter what, they've already accomplished so much this season, and they delivered one more time."
Freshman Rebecca Ho and senior Corinne Rauck rallied from a 3-0 deficit to win 8-6 at No. 1 doubles as DePauw led 2-1 after doubles. The Bears won the first set in all six singles matches. Ho then rallied in the second set of her No. 2 singles match to win 7-2 in the tiebreak and even the match at 2-2. Sophomores Jamie Silverberg and Aly Coran battled to straight-set wins at first and third singles to give the Bears a 4-2 lead. DePauw won the second set at fourth, fifth and sixth singles, and took early leads in the third set on all three courts. After trailing 3-2, Edershile took a 4-3 lead, before serving for the match to win 6-4.
Washington U. improved to 19-5 on the season, the most wins for the program since finishing 20-5 in the 2003-04 season. DePauw ended its season with a 19-5 record. The Bears will face the winner of Sunday's Regional Championship in Atlanta between No. 1 Emory University and No. 19 Washington and Lee University in the NCAA Quarterfinal round. The eight regional champions will vie for the NCAA Division III National Championship Monday-Wednesday, May 19-21, at Biszantz Family Tennis Center in Claremont, Calif.
Match-by-Match Results:
Doubles:
1. Rebecca Ho/Corinne Rauck (WASHUW) def. Caroline
Emhardt/Maggie MacPhail (DPUW) 8-6
2. Meg Crowley/Claire Marshall (DPUW) def. Aly Coran/Jamie
Silverberg (WASHUW) 8-4
3. Kaitlin Pickrel/Julie Wittwer (DPUW) def. Betsy Edershile/Hanna
Newstadt (WASHUW) 8-4
Singles:
1. Jamie Silverberg (WASHUW) def. Maggie MacPhail (DPUW) 6-4,
6-3
2. Rebecca Ho (WASHUW) def. Claire Marshall (DPUW) 6-4, 7-6
(7-2)
3. Aly Coran (WASHUW) def. Carolyn Huerth (DPUW) 6-3, 6-4
4. Theresa Petraskova (WASHUW) vs. Meg Crowley (DPUW)
6-2, 5-7, 4-5, unfinished
5. Betsy Edershile (WASHUW) def. Caroline Emhardt (DPUW) 7-5, 2-6,
6-4
6. Corinne Rauck (WASHUW) vs. Julie Wittwer (DPUW) 7-6 (7-3), 1-6,
5-6, unfinished
Notes:
• Washington U. has hosted NCAA Regionals three times in
school history, advancing to the Quarterfinal round all three years
(2002, 2013, 2014).
• It was the fourth meeting between Washington U. and DePauw
this season, with the Bears winning each of the last three.
• The Bears also rallied from a 2-1 deficit after doubles to
defeat DePauw 5-4 in the NCAA Third Round May 11, 2013, at Tao
Tennis Center.
• Washington U. improved to 11-14 all-time in the NCAA
Championships.
• It was just the fifth time this season the Bears have
trailed after doubles, improving to 2-3 in those matches.
• The win at No. 5 singles for Edershile was the
95th victory in her career (95-52).
• Ho improved to 40-7 overall, including a 24-3 mark in
singles, in her rookie season.
• Ho and Rauck have won each of their last nine matches at No.
1 doubles.