BOSTON, Mass. (Sept. 16, 2011) – In a match that could have gone either way, the Mount Holyoke College tennis team suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 setback to Simmons College this afternoon at the Winsor School Courts.
The Lyons gained control of the contest with a pair of doubles victories. Senior Heather Richardson and sophomore Kelsey Brower got things going with a convincing 8-0 triumph at the number three slot. Junior Nahrhee Han and AnnElizabeth Konkel then prevailed 8-6 in their number one tilt to put the guests in front 2-1.
Mount Holyoke enjoyed a 3-1 advantage after a 6-0, 6-3 victory by Konkel at number five singles.
Refusing to go away, Simmons knotted things up with straight sets wins by its top two players, sophomore Margaret Teague and junior Sabrina Salmela.
The Lyons proceeded to regain the lead thanks to the steady play of senior Sarah Moore, who rallied for a 6-7, 6-1, 6-1 triumph in her number six match.
Simmons (1-3, 0-0 GNAC) then leveled the score with a 7-5, 6-1 win by sophomore Andreé Simé at the number three position.
With the outcome of the contest in the balance, all eyes turned to the number four singles matchup between sophomore Eman Malik and first year Nicole Eskenazi. The two players split their first two sets and battled to a third set tiebreaker, where Malik built a 6-5 advantage. Eskenazi staved off elimination with a forehand winner down the line and followed with two more points to seal the win for the Sharks.
Mount Holyoke (1-2, 0-1 NEWMAC) will open up its home slate against NEWMAC foe Wellesley College tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.
