Williams Begins Title Defense with 5-0 Win in NCAA Women's Tennis Tournament

Courtesy Williams Sports Information

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Williams women's tennis, host of this weekend's three-round regional sectional of the 2010 NCAA Women's Tennis Tournament, began their quest for a third consecutive national title with a 5-0 sweep of Wheaton College (17-3).

Wheaton advanced to second-round action with a 5-2 defeat of Ithaca in a first-round contest yesterday. Williams, who received a first-round bye as the second-seeded team in the tournament, put the Lyons in an early 3-0 hole and Wheaton could not push past a very talented and tournament-tested Ephs singles ladder.

Williams’ two and three pairs defeated their Wheaton counterparts in identical 8-3 showings.  Grace Baljon and Taylor French were challenged at court one by the Lyons’ Sarah Geocaris and Catherine Teague.  The match was sent to a tiebreak where Williams narrowly defeated Wheaton, 9-8 (8-6).

The final doubles victory gave all the momentum to the Ephs, and Williams took care of business quickly in singles.  Caroline Capute tallied the fourth point at court six with a dominant straight set win over Rosalyn Chesky, 6-0, 6-0.  Lucy Marchese followed just fifteen minutes later with a victory at court four to send the Ephs into the third-round with a 6-2, 6-0 result.

Williams will take on the winner of the Tufts/Skidmore match tomorrow at 12:00 a.m.

Williams 5, Wheaton 0

Doubles:
1) Grace Baljon/Taylor French (W) def. Sarah Geocaris/Catherine Teague (WHE) - 9-8 (8-6)
2) Kristin Alotta/Nikki Reich (W) def. Allesandra DiOrio/Katherine Knies (WHE) - 8-3
3) Lucy Marchese/Caroline Capute (W) def. Ellen Van Faasen/Rosalyn Chesky (WHE) - 8-3

Singles:
1) Baljon (W) vs. Geocaris (WHE) - DNF W 6-5
2) Alotta (W) vs. Teague (WHE) - DNF W 6-4, 1-0
3) Reich (W) vs. Van Faasen (WHE) - DNF W 6-2, 4-1
4) Marchese (W) def. DiOrio (WHE) - 6-2, 6-0
5) Nancy Worley (W) vs. Knies (WHE) - DNF W 6-1, 3-0
6) Capute (W) def. Chesky (WHE) - 6-0, 6-0