Middlebury advanced to the NESCAC semifinals with a 5-4 win over Bates in a first-round match played at Williams. The Panthers will take on Amherst on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. with the winner advancing to Sunday's title match. Middlebury improved to 13-5 on the year, while Bates  falls to 10-8.

Spencer Lunghino finished off Pierre Planche in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, to send Middlebury into the semifinals. Bates took a 2-1 lead out of doubles play with the tandems of Matt Bettles/Robert Crampton and Timmy Berg/Planche providing victories. Middlebury quickly seized control of the four singles matches they needed for a team win.

First, Brantner Jones knocked off Berg 6-2, 6-2 at one singles. Edward Fitzgibbons breezed 6-0, 6-0 at five to make it 3-2 Middlebury. After Crampton tied the match at three with a 6-0, 6-2 win at second singles, Eric Vehovec fought off Bates' Ben Bogard at six singles for a 6-0, 6-4 victory.

Bettles won 6-2, 6-3 at three singles to tie the match at four, but by that time Lunghino had a 6-4, 5-2 lead over Planche at four and finished him off 6-3 to send Middlebury to the semifinals.