Express hold off Penn State Berks and earn the NEAC no.1 seed
Reading, PA (4/20/12) - The Wells College women's tennis team handed the Nittany Lions their first lost in NEAC competition in a nail-biter that concluded under the setting sun. With the win, the Express remain unbeaten in the NEAC while earning the 1st seed for the conference finals at Clarks Summit, Wells improves to 7-4 while P.S. Berks falls to 7-5.
Getting off to a good start was critical for the Express and at 1st doubles, Taguchi and Ellis held strong to defeat Hitz and Harris 8-5. Another 8-6 victory came at 3rd doubles for Shimazaki and Pietruch while at 2nd doubles, Copfer and Vanno surrendered a 5-2 lead to fall 9-8 (7-3) to Kehm and Fuller.
With a 2-1 edge, the Express began singles action getting a quick win at the 5th slot, where Shimazaki cruised past Fuller 6-0, 6-1. However, tensions grew with the conclusion of 4th and 6th singles where Kehm def. Vanno 6-4, 6-1 and Hatter def. Pietruch 7-5, 6-1. With the match even at 3-3, Ellis regained her focus to put away Hoffman in a second set tie-breaker to earn a 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) win. With two players left on the courts, neither side was at all relaxed, but the Nittany Lions remained hopeful once Harris leveled the score by defeating Copfer at 3rd singles 6-3, 6-0. During the entirety on singles action, Taguchi was in a battle at 1st singles with Hitz, dropping the first set 4-6 and fighting back to win the second 6-4. With both camps focused on the deciding match, pressure rose with each shot before Taguchi finally earned a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory under the fading light giving the Express the match.
The Express returned home to face Lancaster Bible in Aurora, NY (4/21/12) to conclude regular NEAC season play.