Emory sweeps Bears in semifinals

CLAREMONT, Calif. — No. 1-ranked Emory earned a spot in the title match round of the NCAA Division III Championships following a 5-0 victory in the semifinals against No. 6-ranked Washington-St. Louis Wednesday evening. Matches are taking place at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center and Pauley Tennis Complex in Claremont, California.  The victory boosts the Eagles’ overall record to 24-3 while the Bears fell to 18-6.

Emory battled through a determined Wash U. squad and took both a 3-0 lead and the match’s momentum following the doubles action.  The No. 1 team of junior Chris Goodwin and classmate Will Humphreys picked up the Eagles’ first point of the evening with an 8-4 triumph over Isaac  Stein and Max Woods, their 30th win overall this season. With that outcome decided, the Nos. 2 & 3 matches developed into battle royals that saw some outstanding tennis played.  Senior Colin Egan and junior Dillon Pottish faced a 5-7 deficit, but roared back to come away with an inspiring 9-7 win at the No. 3spot over Gary Parizher and Adam Putterman, upping Emory’s margin to 2-0.  Sophomore Noah Simonson and Ayush Bajoria then closed out the sweep with an intense 9-8 decision (7-3 tiebreaker) against Kareem Farah and Cameron Chiang.

Goodwin provided the Eagles with one of the two singles points needed to send them to the championship match when he notched a 6-2, 6-1 verdict against Woods at No. 2, his 26th win in 29 tries this season.  Pottish would go onto to finish out the match with his 6-2, 6-1 decision against Stein at No. 1 boosting his overall won-lost slate to 32-2, 23-1 this spring.

Emory will tangle with No. 2-ranked Amherst (35-1) in the championship clash on Thursday.  The Lord Jeffs earned a spot in the finals following a 5-1 triumph against Williams in the semis. It will mark the seventh time in the 12-year tenure as head coach that John Browning has directed the Eagles to a berth in the championship contest.  Emory won its last national title in 2006.  The teams are slated to square off at 5:00 p.m. (EDT).