Narrow win over Pomona-Pitzer puts CMS into NCAA quarterfinals

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Watch Scott's clinching point


CLAREMONT, Calif. – Ahead 3-0 after doubles, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's tennis team looked as if they would make quick work of Pomona-Pitzer. But Pomona-Pitzer had other ideas as the match tightened up. In the end, CMS prevailed 5-3 in the third round of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships on May 15 at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center. CMS advances to the NCAA quarterfinals to face Bowdoin on May 23 in Kalamazoo, Mich.  CMS defeated Bowdoin 7-2 in Claremont on March 19.

In the rubber match between the cross-street rivals, CMS swept doubles for the second time in the three matches played this season. Senior Caroline Ward (CMC) and junior Katie Kuosman (CMC) moved CMS out in front 1-0 in doubles with an 8-5 win at #1 doubles over Emily Chen and Maryann Zhao. At #1s, the match was tied 5-5 before CMS took control. Sophomores Lindsay Brown (CMC) and Bria Smith (CMC) at #3 doubles then defeated Caroline Casper and Mae Coyiuto 8-4. Sophomore Kyla Scott (HMC) and freshman Jessie Cruz (CMC) closed out the sweep at #2 doubles, 8-4 over Lea Lynn Yen and Grace Hruska.

Singles started out in CMS' favor as Brown won 6-0, 6-0 over Shivani Doraiswami at the #3 position. Kuosman led 6-0 at #2 singles and it looked as if CMS was going to close out a 5-0 or 5-1 win. Pomona-Pitzer's Lea Lynn Yen took #5 singles 6-1, 6-2 over Cruz to get Pomona-Pitzer its first point to make it 4-1. Casper then topped Ward 6-3, 7-5 in the top singles match. Shortly thereafter, Kuosman fell 6-1,  0-6, 2-6 at #2 singles and CMS found itself holding on to a precarious 4-3 lead.

Similar to the finals of the SCIAC Championships against Pomona-Pitzer a week ago, a 7-2 CMS win, Scott closed out the win for CMS at #4 singles 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. In the final game of the third set, Scott came back from a 15-40 deficit and forced deuce, before pulling out the win.

More information about CMS' quarterfinals match against Bowdoin will be posted as it becomes available.

Results

By Chris Watts
Director of Athletics Communication
Claremont McKenna College

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