The Emory University Women's Tennis team will be making its ninth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III Semifinals and 18th overall as the third-ranked Eagles defeated No.-8 Bowdoin College, 5-1, in the Quarterfinals Monday afternoon at the Champions Tennis Club in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The Eagles advance to face top-ranked and unbeaten Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the Semifinals Tuesday morning, beginning at 10:00 AM EST. CMS improved to 29-0 overall with a win over Washington University, 5-1, on Monday. Emory ran its win-loss legder to 16-6 with the win while the Polar Bears saw their season come to a close at 16-6.
Seniors Paula Castro and Michelle DeMeo opened the scoring, taking the third doubles match, 8-3, over Pilar Giffenig and Sasa Jovanovic. Bowdoin tied the score at second doubles as Tess Trinka and Tasha Christ upended senior Michelle Satterfield and sophomore Daniela Lopez, 8-6. Senior Katarina Su and junior Bridget Harding closed out the doubles action with a 9-7 win to put the Eagles in front heading into singles play.
Emory stormed through singles to the match win, taking three singles points all in straight sets. Senior Melissa Goodman notched Emory's third point with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Giffenig at fifth singles. Moments later, Castro posted a 6-3, 6-1 decision over Jovanovic at sixth singles before Su came through with the clincher, 6-2, 6-0, over Christ at fourth singles.
At the end of the match, Emory held leads at both first and third singles: Harding over Joulia Likhanskaia, 6-4, on court one and Lopez over Sam Stalder, 6-1, 5-2, on court three.
The Eagles improve to 17-10 in NCAA Quarterfinal matches including a 15-1 record in their last 16 contests in the Round of Eight.