The Emory men's tennis team has moved into the title match of the University Athletic Association Championships after defeating Washington University in the semifinals on Saturday. The No. 3-ranked Eagles won for the 12th straight time and upped their overall record to 16-2 after battling to a 5-3 verdict over the No. 7 Bears who fell to 17-6.
The Eagles trailed by a 2-1 count after the doubles portion of the match. At No. 1, seniors Jonathan Jemison and Adrien Bouchet picked up the first point of the afternoon with an 8-2 triumph over Konrad Kozlowski and Bernardo Neves, raising their record to 23-4 on the season. However, WU bounced back with wins at Nos. 3 and 2, respectively, to take the one-point edge heading into singles.
Sophomore Hayden Cassone evened the score at 2-2 following a 6-4, 6-1, outcome over Neves at second singles, his 13th victory in 20 decisions on the year. Freshman Antonio Mora gave Emory the lead for good after emerging at fourth singles with a 6-2, 6-2, triumph against Benjamin vander Sman, while senior James Spaulding put the Eagles one point from clinching following a come-from-behind battle vs. J.J. Kroot, 1-6, 6-0, 6-1. With Bouchet and freshman Andrew Esses waging three-set battles at Nos. 3 and 5, it was Bouchet who came through with the winning point, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 over Daniel Li, which upped his season slate to 19-3.
Emory will square off against No. 10-ranked Brandeis (16-3) on Sunday in the finals starting at 8:30 am.