Blue Tennis Wraps Up Weekend at ITA Regionals

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Wellesley College tennis first year Justine Huang's (Coto de Caza, Calif.) run through the bracket came to an end in the round of 16 on Saturday at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Regional Championships at Middlebury College. 

Huang, who won a pair of matches on Friday afternoon, fell to seeded junior Lily Bondy (Brooklyn, N.Y.) of Middlebury in a thrilling three-set match. Huang battled back after dropping the first set (6-1), forcing a third set with a win in the second (6-4). Ultimately, Bondy prevailed with a 6-4 victory in the clincher.

Four other Wellesley players were also in action on Saturday, taking part in the backdraw after being knocked out of the bracket on Friday afternoon.

Junior Carina Chen (Hong Kong) scored a big victory over seeded Yagmur Akgul (Istanbul, Turkey) of New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) rival Babson, 8-4, in an eight-game pro set. Chen also matched up against Joanna Booth (Philadelphia, Pa.) of Amherst, dropping an 8-3 final.

Junior Andjela Stojkovic (Victoria, B.C., Canada) and sophomore Emily Olson (La Jolla, Calif.) each earned two victories on Saturday. Stojkovic bested a pair of NESCAC players, first topping Pilar Giffing (Salisbury, Conn.) of Bowdoin (8-6) before defeating Sarah Monteagudo (Miami, Fla.) of Amherst (8-3).

Olson saved three match points to defeat Shannon Gibbs (West Des Moines, Iowa) of Middlebury (9-8 (4)), earning the Blue another win over a NESCAC opponent, before going on to roll to an 8-0 victory over Samantha Peikes (West Hartford, Conn.) of Smith.

First year Tristan Lorich (New York, N.Y.) also played a pair of matches in the backdraw, dropping a decision to Carmen Saab (Memphis, Tenn.) of Williams (8-1) and Olivia Popa (San Diego, Calif.) of Tufts (8-2).

The Blue will return to NEWMAC play in their next outing on Tuesday, September 29, at 7:00 PM vs. Wheaton.