Blue Tennis Triumphs in 5-4 Match Against Luther

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Wellesley College tennis team triumphed in a 5-4 match against Luther College on Thursday afternoon in Kissimmee, FL. Wellesley, ranked 12th in the Northeast Region, moves to 10-3 overall, while Luther, ranked 9th in the Central region, slip to 16-6.

Luther took a 2-1 lead after doubles play, with Wellesley's lone victory coming at the three spot. Kendall Tada and Erica Choo combined for an 8-6 win over Cass Chalhoub and Katy Lindstrom. At one, Alana Humpal and Katie Nichols defeated Wellesley's Jacqueline Shen and Marie Watanabe, 8-5, while at two, Brynne Zinnecker and Elise Allen beat Wellesley's Nathalie Herman and Diana Granger, 8-5.

The Blue quickly tied the match at 2-2 when Shen defeated Cami Czech at two, 2-6, 6-1, 10-1. Wellesley ten took a 3-2 lead after Granger won her fifth flight match 6-1, 6-1 over Allen. However, Luther knotted the score at 3-3 after Nichols defeated Tada 7-6, 1-6, 10-8 at six.

Wellesley again took a lead after Watanabe's 6-3, 6-0 victory over Humpal at one. The Blue's Erica Choo then clinched the match for Wellesley with a 4-6, 6-2, 10-8 win at number three. Herman would drop her fourth flight match, 7-6, 7-5, to set the final to 5-4 in favor of the Blue.

Wellesley returns to New England to host the 2011 Wellesley Invitational. Matches begin Friday at 3:00pm with the Blue traveling to Brandeis. Wellesley then returns home to play Amherst, MIT and Skidmore on Saturday and Sunday.