Blue Tennis Rallies to Top Babson, 5-4

NATICK, Mass.—Babson College opened up a 2-1 lead after doubles, but Wellesley College won four of the six singles matches to rally for a 5-4 victory in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) women's tennis action on Saturday night at the Natick Racket Club.

With its fourth straight win, Wellesley is now 6-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play, while Babson drops to 8-2 overall and 4-2 in the NEWMAC.

The Beavers' number three doubles pairing of senior Alexis Ferraro and junior Tori Paolino collected an 8-4 triumph for the first point of the match. The Blue evened things up as sophomore Andjela Stojkovic and first-year Caroline Hsutopped Babson first-years Kylie Kam and Jenny Quenard, 8-6, at number two, before the Green and White's top pairing of senior Alex Freeman and first-year Yagmur Akgul defeated senior Sojung Lee and sophomore Carina Chen, 8-6, for a 2-1 edge.

Blue sophomore Dasha Kostikina beat Babson first-year Claire Foster, 6-4, 6-2, at number six singles, and Hsu followed with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Paolino at number four to give Wellesley a 3-2 lead. The Beavers responded though, as Akgul edged Stojkovic, 7-5, 6-1, at number two singles to even the match, and Ferraro rallied after dropping the first set for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over Blue sophomore Samantha Stone to go back in front 4-3.

Chen won a first-set tiebreaker against Quenard en route to a 7-6, 6-0 victory at number three singles to deadlock the match at 4-4, and Wellesley completed its comeback when Lee took the first set against Freeman in a tiebreaker, and then held her off for a 7-6, 6-4 triumph at number one singles.

Both teams return to action on Tuesday at 4 p.m. as Babson travels to Wheaton, while Wellesley will be at Emerson.