From Carnegie Mellon University Athletics
The 12th-ranked Carnegie Mellon University women's tennis team faced its third top eight opponent in as many matches on Wednesday, March 15 when it defeated seventh-ranked Amherst, 6-3, in Claremont, California. The Tartans move to 11-5 for the season while Amherst falls to 0-4.
After falling behind 1-0, the Tartans earned victories at number one and number three doubles to take a 2-1 lead. Senior Nicholle Torres (Weston, Fla./Great Neck South) and junior Cori Sidell (Redwood Shores, Calif./Carlmont) won, 8-4, at number one doubles with sophomore Jamie Vizelman (Highland Heights, Ohio/Mayfield) and junior Katie Lai (Hagatna, Guam/St. Andrew's Episcopal School) winning at number three doubles, 8-5.
Amherst tied the match at 3-all after three singles matches were complete. Earning a win for the Tartans was freshman Vinaya Rao (Vernon Hills, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson), 6-4, 6-2, at fourth singles.
Torres earned a 7-5, 7-5 win at number one singles to put the Tartans within match point. Lai then fought back from a set down to force a third set with a tiebreaker win in the second, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, to clinch the match victory for the Tartans.
Vizelman added a win a third singles, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The victory over Amherst is the first in program history for the Tartans and closes their spring break in California. Three times the teams met in the NCAA Quarterfinals and six times Amherst has played for the national championship, winning in 1999.