Wellesley Tennis Downs Babson, Advances to NEWMAC Championship

NORTON, Mass. -- For the ninth consecutive season, the Wellesley College women's tennis team finds itself in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament championship match, as the second-seeded Blue recorded a 5-2 victory over third seed Babson College during Saturday's second semifinal match at Wheaton College's Clark Tennis Courts. 

Improving to 8-2, Wellesley will face top seed Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m.  The Engineers defeated the Blue by a 6-3 count on October 2 in Cambridge.  Babson finishes its fall slate at 7-4.

Wellesley began today's action with a doubles sweep, winning the first through third positions by scores of 8-3, 8-4 and 8-1, respectively.

Junior Diana Granger and sophomore Sojung Lee comprised the top doubles team, while junior Erica Choo and sophomore Joyce Chen doubled up Babson sophomore Alexis Ferraro and first-year Tori Paolino at number two. 
  
In the third slot, sophomore Veronica Lin and first-year Suzanne Barth  allowed just one game against them in their match.
  
Lee provided the Blue with a 4-0 lead after posting a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Paolino in the third singles position. 
  
The Beavers sliced their deficit in half after turning in wins at the first and fifth slots.  At the top spot, sophomore Alex Freeman downed Granger, 6-1, 6-4, while sophomore Minte Tamoshunas registered a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Chen at number five. 
  
A three-set triumph from Barth over Ferraro in the fourth position proved to be the deciding match.  Barth won 6-3 in the first set and was blanked 6-0 in the middle set, but she answered with a 6-4 decision in the third and final set. 
  
In the pair of unfinished contests, Choo recorded a 6-4 opening-set win at number two and trailed junior Sarah Whitaker 4-2 in the second set.  In the sixth position, Wellesley first-year Abby Esrock was holding a 3-2 edge over Babson senior Victoria Lorido in the third set.  Esrock captured the opening set by a 6-4 count and was shut out in the second set.