From Emory University Athletics
The No.-3 ranked Emory University Women's Tennis team is headed to the NCAA Division III National Championship for the fifth consecutive year and the 12th time in program history as the Eagles knocked off No.-1 ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 5-1, Tuesday afternoon. The match was played indoors at The McCallie School due to heavy rainfall throughout the morning in the Chattanooga area.
Emory (17-6), in search of its second straight national title and eighth overall, will battle No.-4 ranked Williams College (19-4) in the championship match on Wednesday. The Ephs rallied by winning the final four singles matches to defeat No.-2 Middlebury College, 5-4, in the other semifinal match on Tuesday.
Wednesday marks the third straight season Emory and Williams have met in the championship match and the sixth time overall the two programs have faced off to decide a champion. The Eagles and Ephs have combined to win 15 of the last 16 Division III National Championships. Emory has defeated Williams in three straight meetings including a win earlier this season, 5-4, on March 20th.
"We are playing really well as a team right now and are excited about the opportunity to be in the finals tomorrow," said Head Coach Amy Bryant following the win over CMS.
For the second day in a row, seniors Paula Castro and Michelle DeMeo began the scoring with a win at third doubles. The Emory duo edged out CMS's Kyla Scott and Madison Shea, 8-6. The Athenas tied the score at one as Nicole Ten and Lindsay Brown upended senior Katarina Su and junior Bridget Hardingon court one, 8-5. Senior Michelle Satterfield and sophomore Daniela Lopez broke the tie at second doubles as the pair won six of the last eight points to beat Katie Kuosman and Catherine Allen, 8-5.
Su and Harding rebounded following their doubles defeat to claim the first two singles points for the Eagles. Su cruised to the 6-0, 6-0 win over Jessie Cruz at fourth singles before Harding recorded the 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Scott at first singles.
Needing just one point to clinch a berth in Wednesday's title match, Castro came through with the 7-6 (3), 6-2 decision at sixth singles to send Emory to the championship match.
When the match was decided, Emory was in front in two of three remaining singles matches: Satterfield at second singles (6-3, 2-1) and Lopez at third singles (6-4, 2-1).
Notes
Emory improves to 12-6 all-time in semifinal matches…The loss was Claremont-Mudd-Scripps' first of the season, finishing the year 29-1...Senior Michelle Satterfield moved into a tie with Lorne McManigle ('11) for fifth place on the Emory all-time list with 93 career doubles victories…Junior Bridget Harding tied Shannon McGlame for 10th place all-time with 78 career singles wins.