BABSON PARK, Mass. – Tied at 3-3,
Katie Driscoll clinched the match with a three-set win at No. 3 singles to help No. 10 MIT defeat No. 7 Babson College, 4-3, in the NEWMAC women's tennis regular-season finale for both teams on Saturday. With the victory, the Engineers claimed the program's 11
th regular season title in 12 years and the top seed in the upcoming NEWMAC Championship.
THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 10 MIT 4, No. 7 Babson 3
- Records: No. 10 MIT (15-2 Overall, 8-0 NEWMAC); No. 7 Babson (14-4 Overall, 7-1 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED - DOUBLES:
- Trailing 3-1 to Mia Sorrentino and Han Wang in the No. 3 spot, Driscoll and Anastasia Samets won back-to-back games. The duo from Babson went up 4-3, but Driscoll and Samets completed the comeback with a 6-4 victory.
- In a tightly played match at the No. 2 position, Chloe Zeng and Carley Chen evened the score at 5-5. However, Alessandra Cristiani and Elizabeth Shu replied by taking the next two games to secure the victory.
- At the top of the ladder, Alaina Kolli and Artemis Pados inched out to a 3-1 lead over Matia Cristiani and Alessandra Sikharulidze. The Beavers picked up the next two games, but Kolli and Pados took a 4-3 edge. Cristiani and Sikharulidze responded by winning three games in a row to record a 6-4 victory and capture the doubles point.
HOW IT HAPPENED - SINGLES:
- Saina Deshpande fell to Matia Cristiani, 6-2, 6-2, in the No. 1 position.
- Sophia Yang topped Alessandra Cristiani, 6-1, in the first set at No. 4 singles. In the second set, Cristiani took a 3-2 lead, but Yang won three straight games before registering a 6-4 victory.
- In the No. 6 slot, Rayna Li jumped out to a 4-0 lead en route to a 6-3 win against Wang in the first set. The second set saw Li rally from a 4-2 deficit to post a 6-4 victory and tie the match at 2-2 for MIT.
- Zeng won five games in a row to build a 5-2 advantage and then held on for a 6-4 victory in the first set against Sikharulidze in the No. 2 position. In the second set, Zeng had a 4-2 edge, but Sikharulidze rattled off three consecutive wins. Zeng evened the frame at 5-5; however, Sikharulidze went on to notch a 7-5 victory. Zeng tied the third set a 3-3, but Sikharulidze picked up the next two games. Zeng extended the match with a victory in the ensuing game; however, Sikharulidze thwarted the comeback attempt to win the set at 6-4 and give Babson a 3-2 edge in the match.
- Facing a 3-0 deficit to Tina Liu in the first set at No. 5 singles, Chen rattled off five wins in a row to take the lead. Liu tied the set at 5-5, but Chen countered by notching back-to-back victories. In the second set, Liu put together her own five-game run that resulted in a 5-3 lead. Both players went on to trade games, forcing a tiebreaker which Chen won, 7-5.
- In the No. 3 spot, three consecutive victories gave Shu a 4-2 edge against Driscoll in the opening set. Driscoll countered with back-to-back wins, but both players exchanged games as Driscoll forced a tiebreaker that was won by Shu, 7-3. The second set saw Driscoll race out to a 4-1 advantage; however, Shu battled back to take a 5-4 lead. Driscoll responded with three straight victories, sending the match into a third set. After conceding the opening game, Driscoll won six in a row to clinch the match for the Engineers.
UP NEXT:
- As the No. 1 seed in the NEWMAC Championship, MIT will host either No. 4 Smith College or No. 5 Springfield College in the semifinals on Saturday, May 2 at 12:00 PM.
STAY CONNECTED:
