The top-ranked Emory University women's tennis team suffered a heartbreaker on Friday afternoon, falling to seventh-ranked Middlebury University, 5-4, in a match that lasted over five hours. With the defeat, the Eagles drop to 18-4 on the season while the Panthers improve to 7-3 overall.
Emory held a 4-3 lead following doubles action and the first four singles matches but the Panthers saw Ria Gerger defeat sophomore Bridget Harding in a third set tiebreaker (3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4)) to even the match at 4-4 before Christina Puccinelli knocked off senior Beatrice Rosen in the third set (4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2) moments later to seal the victory for Middlebury.
The Eagles saw Harding and junior Katarina Su win their eighth straight match by a score of 9-7 to claim the lone doubles point for Emory on court number 2. In the other two doubles matches sophomore Anna Fuhr and freshman Daniela Lopez were upended 8-6 in the no.1 doubles match and juniors Michelle Satterfield and Paula Castro fell 9-8 (5) for the no.3 doubles point.
Emory rebounded to begin singles play as senior Madison Gordon evened the match at 2-2, winning her 13th consecutive singles match, taking the no.6 singles point in straight sets 6-2, 6-0. The Panthers regained the lead as Su was defeated for the no.5 singles point 6-3, 6-0. Satterfield and freshman Taylor Cosme made it 4-3 in favor of the Eagles as Satterfield won the no.2 singles match 6-1, 6-2 and Cosme won in comeback fashion 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 for the no.3 singles point. The lead was short lived however as the Panthers was able to knock off Harding and Rosen to give Middlebury the 5-4 win.
The Eagles will look to rebound as they take on #26 Skidmore University tomorrow afternoon on Middlebury's campus beginning at 3:00 PM.
Notes
Senior Madison Gordon moved into a tie for 11th place all-time with her 74th career singles victory.