Wellesley Tennis Advances in NCAA Championships; Blue Down Endicott, 5-0

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – The Wellesley College tennis team advanced to the second round of the 2009 NCAA Championships with a 5-0 victory over Endicott College on Friday morning. The Blue, now 18-5 on the year, handed the Gulls (16-2) just their second loss of the season in the sweep. 

Wellesley dominated doubles with first-year Marie Watanabe (Houston, TX) and junior Meghan Stubblebine (Cumming, GA) opening up play with an 8-0 win in the third spot. Seniors Jen Schwarzkopf (Hinsdale, IL) and Katelyn Ching (Kaneohe, HI) followed suit, with an 8-1 victory at second doubles.  Wrapping up the doubles matches, junior Mohona Siddique (Chevy Chase, MD) and sophomore Jacqueline Shen (Calgary, Alberta) recorded an 8-3 win in the first flight.

Wellesley needed just two wins in singles play to seal the 5-0 victory in the match that was played to decision. Shen put the Blue ahead, 4-0, after a win at third singles, recording a 6-0, 6-2 win over Lori Wardner.  Stubblebine then put the match away, defeating Jenna Carme, 6-1, 6-2 at sixth doubles.

When the match was stopped, every other Wellesley player was ahead. In first singles, Watanabe was leading 6-1, 4-2, while in the second spot, Siddique held a 6-4, 5-1 advantage. At four, Schwarzkopf was ahead 6-3, 5-0 and at five, Ching was leading 6-0, 5-1. 

Wellesley now advances to the second round of play and will take on Middlebury on Saturday at 8:00am.