BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Middlebury College men's tennis team earned a trio of wins in doubles play en route to a 5-0 win over Bowdoin in the NESCAC Semifinals Saturday at Maine Pines Tennis Club.
The Panthers improve to 18-2 and advance to the NESCAC Championship game tomorrow against Amherst at 2:00 p.m. The Polar Bears fall to 11-9 and will hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament when selections are announced Monday.
Middlebury picked up two quick points in doubles action as #2 combo Brantner Jones and Palmer Campbell defeated Noah Bragg and Kyle Wolstencroft and #3 duo Ari Smolyer and Peter Heidrech beat Chris Lord and Chase Savage by identical 8-5 scores within moments of each other. With the final crucial doubles point on the line, the #1 pairing went into a tiebreaker, where Alex Johnston and Andrew Lebovitz of Middlebury prevailed in a 9-8 (9-7) nailbiter over Luke Trinka and Sam King to give the Panthers a commanding 3-0 lead.
The singles matches were all competitive, but needing just two matches to clinch the victory, Middlebury's Johnston edged Bragg at #1, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) and Smolyar followed shortly thereafter, beating Lord 6-2, 7-5, to seal the win.
Middlebury 5, Bowdoin 0
Singles competition
1. Alex Johnston (MID) def. Noah Bragg (BOW) 6-4, 7-6
2. Brantner Jones (MID) vs. Luke Trinka (BOW) 6-3, 5-6, unfinished
3. Palmer Campbell (MID) vs. Sam King (BOW) 7-6, 3-2, unfinished
4. Ari Smolyar (MID) def. Chris Lord (BOW) 6-2, 7-5
5. Courney Mountifield (MID) vs. Kyle Wolstencroft (BOW) 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
6. Jackson Frons (MID) vs. Hugh Mo (BOW) 4-6, 6-2, 0-1, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Alex Johnston/Andrew Lebovitz (MID) def. Luke Trinka/Sam King (BOW) 9-8 (9-7)
2. Brantner Jones/Palmer Campbell (MID) def. Noah Bragg/Kyle Wolstencroft (BOW) 8-5
3. Ari Smolyar/Peter Heidrich (MID) def. Chris Lord/Chase Savage (BOW) 8-5
