LEXINGTON, Va. -- Emory advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III championships following a Sunday afternoon come-from-behind victory against Kenyon in the finals of the Lexington Regional hosted by Washington & Lee. The Eagles won their third consecutive match and raised their record to 19-6 following a 5-3 verdict against the Lords, who finished their season at 19-8.
Emory faced a 2-1 deficit after the doubles portion of the match with the No. 3 tandem of junior Eric Halpern and senior Simon Lavoie-Perusse accounting for the win, an 8-6 decision against Michael Roberts and Tristan Kaye.
Kenyon stretched its lead to 3-1 following a win at No. 3 singles, but Emory claimed the next four matches to earn its ticket to the national quarterfinals. Sophomore Will Adams drew Emory to within 3-2 after earning a 6-4, 6-4 triumph against Colin Hass at No. 6, his 16th in 22 decisions this spring. Halpern knotted the score, while raising his season record to 22-8 in the process, after battling to a 7-6, 7-6 outcome at No. 2 versus Sam Geier. Junior Ian Wagner saw his won-loss ledger go to 24-5 (20-4 this spring) after coming away with a 7-6, 6-1 decision against Jacob Huber at No. 4 that tied the match at 4-4.
Senior Nick Szczurek sealed the victory, rallying for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, win at No. 5. The No. 1 singles match between Emory's Alex Ruderman and Wade Heerboth was still in progress when the match was decided.
Emory's opponent in the quarters will be No. 4-ranked Amherst (33-3) with that match taking place on Monday, May 19.
