Amherst Wins 2007 NESCAC Women's Tennis Championship

Courtesy Amherst Sports Information

AMHERST, Mass. - The Amherst College women's tennis team won its third consecutive NESCAC Championship this afternoon with a thrilling 5-4 victory at home over Williams College. Amherst held a 4-2 team advantage with three singles matches still playing, and would eventually need a three set victory from junior Jen Murphy (Simsbury, Conn.) for the title.

It was only fitting that the two longtime NESCAC rivals would come from the drawing the three and four seeds to meet for a rematch of the 2006 NESCAC Championship. Amherst took the title at Williams last season, and the Ephs looked to steal the crown on the road this year.

In what would turn out to be the match of the weekend, Amherst grabbed a 2-1 advantage after doubles play. The pairing of junior Alicia Menezes (Staten Island, N.Y.) and first-year Brittany Berckes (Secaucas, N.J.) took an 8-3 win for Amherst in the top spot, while Williams stole the second match, and Amherst the third.

The Lord Jeffs carried momentum from doubles play into the singles bouts, and quickly jumped to a 4-2 advantage with wins in from Menezes, at one, and junior Laura Stein (Rockport, Maine), at number six.

Credit must be given to the young Ephs, who did not have a single senior in their line-up, and would not go away easily. With Amherst looking for one final match to clinch the victory, Williams stayed alive picking up the next two results.

Williams sophomore Annie Hancock (Syracuse, N.Y.) took a 6-4, 6-4 win over Amherst senior co-captain Katie Hudson (Los Altos, Calif.) to bring Williams within one point. The Ephs tied the team result at 4-4 when first-year Grace Balijon (Pointe Vedra Beach, Fla.) outlasted Berckes 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.

With the two teams knotted up, focus turned to the final singles match of the tournament between Amherst's Murphy and Eph junior Allison Rottkamp (Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.) as it headed for a third set.

After dropping the first set 5-7, Murphy won the second set 6-4 to preserve the championship run. The two players battled hard with both teams sitting close by, and a large crowd having gathered at the fence. At four games apiece in the third set, Murphy broke serve to take a commanding edge and serve for the match.

With the game, set, match and NESCAC Championship on the line, Murphy would not disappoint the Amherst fans, and held serve for the win.

With the result, both teams move to 14-4, and while Amherst receives an automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

No. 3 Amherst 5, vs. No. 4 Williams 4
1:00 p.m.

Doubles                  
1 - Alicia Menezes/Brittany Berckes (Amherst) def. Cary Gibson/Anne Schneidman (Williams) 8-3
2 - Allison Rottkamp/Grace Balijon (Williams) def. Katie Hudson/Jill Wexler (Amherst) 8-4
3 - Laura Stein/Jen Murphy (Amherst) def. Ashley Parsons/Annie Hancock (Williams) 8-4

Singles
1 - Alicia Menezes (Amherst) def. Cary Gibson (Williams) 6-3, 6-4
2 - Grace Balijon (Williams) def. Brittany Berckes (Amherst) 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
3 - Ashley Parsons (Williams) def. Monica Snyder (Amherst) 6-4, 6-2
4 - Jen Murphy (Amherst) def. Allison Rottkamp (Williams) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
5 - Annie Hancock (Williams) def. Kaite Hudson (Amherst) 6-4, 6-4
6 - Laura Stein (Amherst) def. Anne Schneidman (Williams) 6-0, 6-3

2007 NESCAC WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, April 27, through Sunday, April 29, at Amherst, Amherst, Mass.

2007 NESCAC WOMEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
Hosted by Amherst College - Friday-Sunday, April 27-29

Schedule of Matches
First Round - Friday, April 27
1:00 p.m.
No. 6 vs. No. 3
No. 5 vs. No. 4

Semifinals - Saturday, April 28
1:00 p.m.
Winner of No. 5/No. 4 vs. No. 1
Winner of No. 6/No. 3 vs. No. 2

Championship - Sunday, April 29
1:00 p.m.
Semifinal Winners

Format
The top six teams in the conference shall qualify for the championship.  The championship is a single-elimination tournament with no consolation matches.  The No. 1 seed and No. 2 seed shall receive a first round bye.  All matches will be played to conclusion unless there is inclement weather or other extenuating circumstances that the tournament committee believes warrants playing to decision.

Inclement Weather (Tentative)
In foul weather, the men's No. 4/No. 5 match will begin at 8:00 a.m. inside.  Additional matches will begin one half hour after the completion of the previous match.  The men's No. 3/No. 6 match will follow the No. 4/No. 5 match, followed by women's No. 4/No. 5 and women's No. 3/No. 6.  On Saturday in foul weather, the men's top half semifinal (winner No. 4/No. 5 match vs. No. 1) will begin at 8:00 a.m. inside.  Additional matches will begin one half hour after the completion of the previous match.  The men's bottom half semifinal (winner No. 3/No. 6 match vs. No. 2) will go on second, followed by the women's top half semifinal and then the bottom half semifinal.  On Sunday in foul weather, the men's championship match will start at 9:00 a.m.  The women's match will begin at 1:00 p.m. or one half hour after completion of the women's final, whichever is later.

Selection
Teams will be selected and seeded based on the following criteria in priority order:

1. Five match standing

2. NESCAC head-to-head with tied team

3. Wins/losses against other common NESCAC opponents

4. Wins/loses against other common in-region opponents

5. Wins/loses against other common out-of-region opponents

6. Committee review over all win/loss, late season play, strength of schedule

Tournament Committee
There will be separate men's and women's tournament committees consisting of four coaches each.  Committee membership will rotate annually based on an alphabetical rotation. 

Announcement
The tournament committee will notify schools (and the Conference office) of the participating teams and seeding for the tournament.  Participating teams and seeding will be posted on the NESCAC web site after the committee has determined the final seeding and the appeal period has concluded.