Strong Doubles Play Lifts Wellesley Tennis Over Babson

BABSON PARK, Mass. -- Visiting Wellesley College won all three doubles matches and was able to secure two points from singles play, hanging on for a 5-4 victory over Babson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's tennis match on Saturdayat Farwell Courts.

With its fourth straight conference win, Wellesley is now 6-2 overall and 5-1 in the NEWMAC, while Babson drops to 6-4 overall and 3-2 in league play.

The Blue got off to a hot start, sweeping all three doubles matches to take a commanding 3-0 lead. At one, junior Sojung Lee and first-year Carina Chen continued their solid play, topping Babson's Alex Freeman and Dina Weick, 8-5. At two, first-years Andjela Stojkovic and Lina Ye were 8-4 winners over Alexis Ferraro and Tori Paolino. At three, senior Kendall Tada and first-year Samantha Stone rolled to a commanding 8-2 win over Courtney Fischer and Sarah Whitaker.

Wellesley needed just two singles points to earn the team victory, and got them at two and six. At two, Chen cruised in her match against Weick, winning 6-3, 6-0. At six, Tada orchestrated a come-from-behind victory to seal the team win. She topped Fischer 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, to wrap up the match. 

Elsewhere in singles, Wellesley dropped two three-set matches, coming up short at one and five. At one, Babson's Freeman rallied for a 6-7 (7-1), 6-1, 6-3 win over Lee, whle at five, Stone was upended by Paolino, 6-2, 5-7, 6-1. 

Babson also got singles points at three and four, wrapping up the 5-4 Wellesley decision. At three, the Beavers Whitaker topped Stojkovic, 6-2, 6-3, while at four, Ferraro was a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Wellesley's Ye. 

Both teams return to action against NEWMAC foes on Tuesday as Babson hosts Wheaton at3:30 p.m., while Wellesley hosts Emerson in its final home match of the fall at 5 p.m.