KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Bowdoin women's tennis team jumped out to an early 3-0 lead following doubles play and held on for a 5-1 NCAA Quarterfinal win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Monday evening.
The Polar Bears (15-6) avenge a regular season loss to the Athenas, a 7-2 setback on March 19, and advance to their first-ever NCAA semifinal appearance in their fourth appearance in the national quarterfinals.
Bowdoin will battle a familiar foe in the semifinal match at 5:00 p.m. Tuesday as they face NESCAC foe Williams for the second time this season.
Match Highlights
- Tiffany Cheng and Joulia Likhanskaia earned the first point of the day for Bowdoin with a 9-7 win at #1 doubles. The pair mounted a comeback after falling behind 4-2 to take a 5-4 lead, only to see Katie Kuosman and Caroline Ward push ahead 6-5. Likhanskaia and Cheng again battled to push ahead and secure the match.
- Samantha Stalder and Tess Trinka tallied a quick 6-1 lead at #3 doubles before collecting an 8-5 win for the Polar Bears second point of the day.
- Pilar Giffenig and Kyra Silitch rounded out the doubles sweep, winning at #2, with a 9-7 score. Jessie Cruz and Kyla Scott rallied from 7-5 down to tie the match at 7-7, forcing Giffenig and Silitch to pull out the late win.
- CMS earned the first singles point of the day at #4, but Likhanskaia secured Bowdoin's fourth of the day at number one. The junior took a straight set victory (6-3, 6-4) over Ward.
- With several matches in decisive third sets, Stalder punched the Polar Bears ticket to the semifinals with a three-set victory at #5 (7-5, 2-6, 6-3). After being tied 2-2 in the third, Stalder pulled away for the win.
- Cheng, Silitch, and Sarah Shadowens were all playing in their third sets when the match ended.
Up Next
- The Polar Bears will play in their first ever NCAA Semifinal tomorrow evening at 5:00 p.m. against Williams. Bowdoin defeated the Ephs 6-3 earlier in the season, marking the first win for the Polar Bears over Williams in program history.
