The top-ranked Emory University women's tennis team is headed back to the NCAA Division III Semifinals after defeating the University of Chicago in the quarterfinal round Monday morning at the Markin Racquet Center on the campus of Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
The Eagles will be making their 11th consecutive trip to the semifinals and 20th overall after dispatching the Maroons by the count of 5-0 in the Round of Eight. Emory, now 20-3 on the season, advances to meet Wesleyan University at 8:30 AM Tuesday morning. The Cardinals defeated MIT, 5-1, in the other early quarterfinal match on Monday.
The Eagles jumped out to a quick 2-0 advantage with sophomores Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico and Defne Olcay blanking Eugenia Lee and Catherine Xu, 8-0, at first doubles and on court three, sophomore Stephanie Taylor and freshman Christina Watson triumphed by an 8-2 margin over Lauren Park and Nicole Semenov.
At second doubles, senior Daniela Lopez and freshmen Jessica Fatemi fended off a late match rally by Majorie Antohi and Daryn Ellison to take the match 8-7 (7) to complete the doubles sweep.
Gonzalez-Rico opened the singles portion with a straight set victory for her team-leading 28th victory of the year, topping Antohi 6-2, 6-0 at first singles. Lopez clinched the match at second singles shortly after as she bested Xu 6-1, 6-1 to send Emory to Tuesday's Final Four.
At the conclusion of the match, Olcay was up a set, 6-4, 2-2, on court three over Park and on court four freshman Emma Cartledge dropped her first set to Semenov by a 7-5 margin.
Fans can follow Tuesday's semifinal action with links for the match that can be found here: https://hornets.kzoo.edu/tournaments/tennis/2018-19/index.