Tennis Ousted From NEWMAC Tournament by Smith, 5-3

Match Statistics

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Oct. 24, 2009) – Powered by a doubles sweep, the fourth seeded Smith College women’s tennis team downed fifth seeded Mount Holyoke College 5-3 today in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament Quarterfinals.

With its second win over Mount Holyoke this fall, the Pioneers advanced to the Semifinal Round, where they will meet up with top seeded Wheaton College. The other Semifinal will feature second seeded Wellesley College and sixth seeded MIT. The host Engineers advanced by upsetting third seeded Babson College 5-4 in today’s other Quarterfinal Round contest. Both Semifinals, as well as the NEWMAC Championship, will take place at MIT tomorrow.

The Lyons, who advanced to the NEWMAC Tournament for the sixth season in a row, closed out the fall portion of their 2009-10 slate with an overall record of 4-7. They went 3-4 in league play.

Smith (5-3, 4-3 NEWMAC) was paced by Clair Oblamski and Allyson Hawkins, who each captured victories at both singles and doubles.

The Pioneers created a nearly insurmountable advantage by securing victories at all three doubles spots. Gianna Teague and Jaimi Inskeep picked up an 8-5 triumph at the number one slot, while Alanna Dick and Oblamski repeated the feat at the number two position. Hawkins and Margaret Steiner held on for a 9-7 win in their number three match.

Mount Holyoke entered singles play needing to take five of the six matches in order to prevail.

The Lyons immediately sliced the deficit to 3-2 behind straight sets victories by first year Nahrhee Han and junior Natalie Hsiang. Han earned a 6-1, 6-4 win at the number one spot, and Hsiang added a 6-1, 6-1 victory at the second position.

Oblamski extended Smith’s cushion to 4-2 with a 6-1, 6-2 win at the number three spot, but Mount Holyoke senior Sarah London cut the margin to 4-3 with a 6-2, 7-5 victory at number three.

Then, with the match on the line, Hawkins pulled out a 6-4, 6-3 win at the number five slot to seal things for the Pioneers.