"To play Williams in the last home match of the season and to pull together as a team and win is huge," said senior captain Wallis Molchen. "Any time you beat Williams it's a great feeling but Saturday was extra special for me since it was my last home match of the season."
Amherst is now in the top slot going into NCAA Regionals thanks to recent victories over Middlebury College, Tufts University and now Williams. Amherst's Sunday sweep of Wellesley College gave the team a solid finish to a 14-3 regular season.
"We had a really intense practice on Friday; everyone was really focused and I think that carried over into Saturday," said Erin Murphy '05.
Tristan Hedrick '05 agreed. "You could say that the team looked ready and able on Friday at practice and worked hard through that workout to prepare for their specific opponent," said Hedrick. "But really we've been working on this match since fall season," she added.
The Jeffs were no strangers to the Ephs' lineup; in addition to the fall's matchup, some players were taking part in rematches of the previous weekend's NESCAC Championship.
Hedrick, who stepped out of NESCACs early with an injury, was back in top form as she defeated Stephanie Hall 6-2, 6-2 in first singles. Kristen Raverta '06, who beat Hall along the way to winning the NESCAC "A" flight singles title last weekend, was defeated 2-6, 5-7 by Julie Mallory at second singles.
In number three singles Rachel Holt '05 breezed past NESCAC "B" flight champion Alex Maclennan in a 6-2, 6-3 victory. Hadley Miller '06 was defeated 0-6, 2-6 by Kate Troy at fourth singles.
Maclennan and Troy are both top competitors, and faced each other in the NESCAC "B" flight finals.
Molchen defeated Caroline Wasserman in fifth singles 6-4, 6-2.
Katie Hudson '07, NESCAC "C" flight champion, repeated her semifinals defeat of Brittany Binet with a 6-3, 6-1 victory at number six singles.
"Williams is a tough match throughout the entire singles and doubles lineup, meaning that everyone worked hard at their match and every little bit helped," said Hedrick.
The women had hoped to win two or three of the doubles matches to start out the match on a winning note.
"The key part of the match was winning two of the three doubles matches. We had the momentum from the start and never gave Williams an opening," said Molchen.
The Jeffs accomplished that goal, as Hedrick and Holt defeated Ephs Hall and Troy, 8-5, at first doubles and Raverta and Molchen repeated the same victory over Mallory and Maclennan that earned them the NESCAC "B" flight doubles title. Murphy and Miller were defeated 6-8.
"It was a great day, and everyone stepped up and played really good tennis," said Murphy.
On Sunday the women completed their winning weekend with their 9-0 sweep at Wellesley, dominating the competition.
Hedrick won first singles without dropping a single game. Raverta won 6-3, 6-2 at number two, Holt 6-0, 6-2 at number three and Miller 6-4, 6-3 at number four.
Molchen, the only senior on the team, won her final regular season match 6-1, 7-5. Hudson rounded out the singles sweep with a 6-0, 6-1 number six victory.
Hedrick and Holt won first doubles 8-6, while Raverta and Molchen took second doubles 8-4 and Murphy and Miller dominated third doubles 8-0.
"It was a long weekend. We've been in a long stretch of competition. [Playing Wellesley] right after Williams, we had to stay focused. It was a testament to our ability as competitors," said Murphy.
As a result of their victory over Williams the Jeffs are now the first seed for NCAA Regionals in the Northeast and will have a bye in the first round on Saturday. They will then host a match on Sunday to determine whether they move on in the NCAA Tournament.
"Our win puts us in a really good position going into regionals, but we will face tough competition," said Murphy.
"We are really psyched for the upcoming weekend," Murphy added. "Everyone is in good spirits, but we know we have some tough competition ahead."