Sophomore Leads Ephs to Tennis Victory Over Denison
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It was a come-from-behind effort that featured a set two-tiebreaker win and a 6-4 win in the third set.
Reich, along with classmate Lucy Marchese who also won in three sets after dropping the first, lifted the Ephs out of a 4-3 match deficit to a dramatic 5-4 win over Denison and into a semifinal match vs. Emory University on Tuesday morning at 9.
"We all fight so hard for each other I just did it for the team," said Reich. "There was no other option. I just had to do it for my teammates because we really support each other all the time and it pulls us through.
"She [Drane] wasn't giving me anything so I had to be aggressive, focus on the ball and move my feet," she continued. "I just wasn't going to give her anything."
"This match was reminiscent of Brooke Gibson [sister of Cary] battling back for a three-set win in the 2001 NCAA Quarterfinals when we beat Pomona 5-4," said Eph head coach Alison Swain.
Swain was Gibson's doubles partner and a member of the Ephs' first NCAA title team in 2001. Last spring, she directed the Ephs to the 2008 NCAA title in her debut season as an intercollegiate coach. "We got off to a quick start in doubles, but a slow start in singles, but I'm really proud of how everyone battled."
The Ephs improve to 19-2 on the year winning their 41st match against 13 losses in 16 consecutive NCAA appearances, while Denison is finishes at 16-7.
At six singles, Annie Hancock lost in straight sets to Denison's Kara Zdanowski, 6-3, 7-5; DU had the lead in the match for the first time 4-3.
Marchese rebounded from a one-set deficit to take the final two and win at five singles over DU's Kendra Murray. Marchese, still working her back from a season-ending injury last spring, prevailed 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-1 and set the stage for the Reich heroics.
First-year Kristin Alotta won her 23rd consecutive singles match and upped her record this season to 27-1 when she downed DU's Erin Chadwell in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. The Alotta win at No. 4 singles gave the Ephs a 3-1 lead in the match.
However, Denison responded by winning in straight sets at No. 1 singles, in which Meghan Damico topped Grace Baljon 6-0, 7-6 (9-7). Baljon nearly evened the match at one set apiece, but lost a tiebreaker. The Big Red also got a straight set win at two when Kristin Cobb downed the Ephs' Cary Gibson, 6-4, 6-4.
The Williams No. 2 doubles team of Grace Baljon and Taylor French started the Ephs off with a convincing 8-2 win over Denison's Meghan Damico and Kendra Murray.
The Ephs top duo of Cary Gibson and Nikki Reich opened up with a 6-2 lead and then had to hold off the Big Red's Marta Drane and Kristin Cobb, winning 8-6 to give the Ephs a 2-0 lead. A year ago DU's Drane/Cobb team finished second in the NCAA Doubles Tournament.
At third doubles it was a back-and-forth affair with the match tied at three, five and seven before Denison's tandem of Chadwell and Zdanowski took an 8-7 lead over the Ephs' Hancock and Alotta that they fashioned into a 9-7 win.
The Ephs led 2-1 heading into the six singles matches, which is the same score the Ephs led Denison back in March when they met over spring break and Williams won 6-2.
"Everything is tougher when you reach the final eight," said Swain. "Denison was third a year ago so they've been here before and they were well prepared to play today."
Williams 5, Denison 4
Doubles
1. Cary Gibson/Nikki Reich (W) def. Marta Drane/Kristin Cobb (DU) – 8-6
2. Grace Baljon/Taylor French (W) def. Meghan Damico/Kendra Murray (DU) – 8-2
3. Erin Chadwell/Kara Zdanowski (DU) def. Annie Hancock/Kristin Alotta (W) – 9-7
Singles
1. Damico (DU) def. Baljon (W) -- 6-0, 7-6 (9-7)
2. Cobb (DU) def. Gibson (W) – 6-4, 6-4
3. Reich (W) def. Drane (DU) -- 4-6,7-6 (7-4), 6-4
4. Alotta (W) def. Chadwell (DU) – 6-4, 6-3
5. Lucy Marchese (W) def. Murray (DU) -- 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-1
6. Zdanowski (DU) def. Hancock (W) – 6-3, 7-5
