AMHERST, Mass. - The Bowdoin College men's tennis team claimed its second-straight NESCAC Championship with a big comeback in singles play, defeating rival Middlebury 5-3 in a five-hour marathon Sunday at Amherst College.
The Polar Bears (19-1) win their third conference title overall, having also taken the championship in 2008 in addition to last year. Bowdoin also avenges a regular-season loss to the Panthers (20-4) and earns the NESCAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It was the third consecutive year the teams have played for the league title.
Match Highlights
- The Polar Bears had to rally from a 2-1 deficit in doubles play against the Panthers.
- Middlebury took an early 2-0 lead thanks to wins from Kyle Schlanger/Lubomir Cuba at #1 (8-6) and Peter Martin/Timo van der Geest at #3 (8-4).
- Bowdoin got a big doubles win from Kyle Wolfe/Jerry Jiang at #2 (8-4) to get on the board heading into singles action.
- Bowdoin earned the victory with their performance in singles play, winning four of the five completed matches to pull away from the Panthers.
- Kyle Wolfe brought the Polar Bears even with a 6-1, 6-4 win at #3, but Middlebury regained the lead when Cuba defeated Grant Urken 6-4, 7-6 at #1.
- Down a set at #2 and #6, Bowdoin's Luke Tercek (3-6, 6-4, 6-2) and Justin Patel (3-6, 6-2, 6-3) came storming back to give the Polar Bears their first lead of the day, 4-3, with two matches left.
- At #5 Gil Roddy went down a set, but also rallied back to overtake Nate Eazor 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to clinch the title for Bowdoin.
- Bowdoin's Jerry Jiang led Kyle Schlanger (5-7, 6-2, 2-0) in the lone unfinished match when decision was reached.
Up Next
- The Polar Bears will likely host an NCAA Regional at Pickard Courts next weekend. Complete NCAA Division III Championship selections will be announced on Monday at noon.
