Title hopes dashed by Emory; Athenas to play for third at D-III Championships
MASON, Ohio – In a rematch against Emory, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's tennis team lost 5-1 in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships on May 19 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. The loss sends CMS to the third place match against Amherst on Wednesday, May 20 at 10 a.m. EDT. Video will not be available but live scoring will be.
Regardless of the loss, CMS has secured at least its second-best finish in program history. In 2013, CMS finished in fourth at the NCAA Championships.
Entering Tuesday's match, CMS has just one loss on the season, a 5-4 loss to Emory in Claremont back in March. Emory had CMS' number once again, in the semifinals, as they jumped out to a 2-1 lead after doubles. Emory could have led 3-0 after doubles and it took a big comeback by CMS' No. 2 doubles team of senior Sarah Kukino (CMC) and freshman Kyla Scott (HMC) to save a doubles point for CMS. Bridget Harding and Katarina Su led 5-1 before Kukino and Scott came back to take the point at No. 2 doubles, which was the last doubles match to finish.
Emory won No. 3 doubles and No. 1 doubles, 8-4. In the first match of the year between CMS and Emory, CMS led 2-1 after doubles.
Three straight-set singles victories by Emory sealed CMS' fate. Beatrice Rosen defeated sophomore Katie Kuosman (CMC) 6-3, 6-1 for a 3-1 lead and Madison Gordon followed with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over freshman Bria Smith (CMC). Harding bounced back after doubles for a 7-6 (7-2), 6-3 match-clinching victory at No. 5 singles over Scott. On the unfinished courts, CMS' Kukino led 6-3, 4-4 at No. 3 singles and freshman Lindsay Brown (CMC) held a 7-5, 4-1 lead.
Wednesday's third place match will be the first time that CMS and Amherst have faced each other this season.
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