ORLANDO, Fla. – The Middlebury College tennis team claimed the final three singles matches to rally past Bowdoin in a hard-fought 5-4 NCAA Division III Quarterfinal on Saturday morning at the U.S. Tennis Association National Campus in Orlando. The Polar Bears finish a fantastic season with a record of 17-5.
 
Match Highlights

• The Polar Bears carried a 2-1 lead into singles play thanks to an impressive 8-4 win from Tristan Bradley/Reid Staples at number one, followed by an Evan Fortier/Mark Kneiss win at number three.
• Bowdoin continued to build its lead in singles play, getting straight-set wins from Tristan Bradley (6-4, 6-2) and Reid Staples (6-2, 6-1) at number two.
• Middlebury answered with quick, straight-set wins at numbers four, five and six to even the score at 4-4.
• The final match, between Bowdoin's Pieter Breuker and Middlebury's Neel Epstein, went to a third set. Epstein jumped to a 5-1 lead before Breuker posted a dramatic rally to close within 5-4. Epstein broke Breuker's serve, however, to earn the clinching point for the Panthers.

By The Numbers

• All five Polar Bear losses this season came by a 5-4 decision.
• Bowdoin's 17 wins are tied for the fourth-most in program history and the Polar Bears made their first NCAA Quarterfinal appearance since 2019.

Up Next

• Bowdoin's Tristan Bradley and Reid Staples will compete in the NCAA singles and doubles championships later this week in Orlando.