Emory University, ranked fourth in Division III, defeated the 15th-ranked University of the South 5-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Woodruff P.E. Center in Atlanta, Georgia to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships.
Emory, which improved to 16-4 for the season with the win, will take on sixth-ranked Middlebury College in the quarterfinals in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Monday, May 20th. Earlier in the season, Emory claimed a 7-2 win on the road against Middlebury.
This marked the sixth-consecutive season, 13th-time in the last 14 years, and the 24th occasion in the program's history that Emory has advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships.
Emory struck first in the doubles matches, with the combination of junior Gabrielle Clark and freshman Annette Sullivan claiming an 8-3 win over Jenny Liles and Linsey Liles at first doubles. At second doubles, Emory's combination of senior Jordan Wylie and freshman Madison Gordon claimed an 8-5 victory against Sewanee's Bronte Goodhue and Anne Garland, extending the Eagles' lead to 2-0. Junior Brenna Kelly and freshman Emma Taylor capped off the doubles sweep for Emory, winning 8-6 over Annie Veron and Julia Wood.
The Eagles would wrap up the victory with a pair of quick singles victories. At fourth singles, Gordon bested Veron 6-2, 6-1, and Clark defeated Goodhue 6-1, 6-1 at first singles to clinch the team victory. The singles win was the 80th of Clark's career, moving her into sole possession of fourth place on the school's all-time list.
Four of the six singles matches were left unfinished at the time of the match's completion. At the end of the contest, Emory freshman Beatrice Rosen was leading Jenny Liles 5-2 in the first set at second singles, Emory freshman Marissa Levine was tied with Lindsey Liles 6-6 in the first set at third singles, Kelly led Garland 6-2, 3-0 at fifth singles, and Sullivan was up 6-2, 5-2 over Wood at sixth singles.
Sewanee ended its 2013 campaign with an overall record of 19-6. The start time of the match was moved back to 4:00 PM to accommodate the Tigers' seniors who graduated earlier in the day, including Jenny Liles, who was the University's Valedictorian.
Tennis Match Results
University of the South vs Emory University
May 12, 2013 at Atlanta, GA
#4 Emory University 5, #15 University of the South 0
Singles competition
1. Clark, Gabrielle (EUW) def. Goodhue, Bronte (SEW) 6-1, 6-2
2. Rosen, Beatrice (EUW) vs. Liles, Jenny (SEW) 5-2, unfinished
3. Levine, Marissa (EUW) vs. Liles, Lindsey (SEW) 6-6, unfinished
4. Gordon, Madison (EUW) def. Veron, Annie (SEW) 6-2, 6-1
5. Kelly, Brenna (EUW) vs. Garland, Anne (SEW) 6-2, 3-0, unfinished
6. Sullivan, Annette (EUW) vs. Wood, Julia (SEW) 6-2, 5-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Clark, Gabrielle/Sullivan, Annette (EUW) def. Liles, Jenny/Liles, Lindsey (SEW) 8-3
2. Wylie, Jordan/Gordon, Madison (EUW) def. Goodhue, Bronte/Garland, Anne (SEW) 8-5
3. Kelly, Brenna/Taylor, Emma (EUW) def. Veron, Annie/Wood, Julia (SEW) 8-6
Match Notes:
University of the South 19-6; National ranking #15