Coming back from a 2-1 hole after doubles play second-seeded Williams edged out a 5-4 victory over third-seeded Middlebury in the semifinals of the 2013 NESCAC Championship at Amherst. The Ephs (17-3) advance to the title match on Sunday at 9:00 a.m., while the Panthers (18-4) are expected to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament on Monday.
Staking Williams to an early lead, Felix Sun and Matt Micheli took down Brantner Jones and James Burke at second doubles, 8-4. Knotting things up, Middlebury's Spencer Lunghino and Palmer Campbell dispatched of Bryan Chow and Brian Astrachan at third doubles, 8-5, just before Alex Jonston and Andrew Lebovitz handed the Ephs' Alex Schidlovsky and Trey Meyer an 8-5 loss.
Making quick work of Campbell, Sun pulled Williams even with a 6-2, 6-0 decision at third singles, before Micheli put the Ephs on top with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Jones in the second slot. Battling back, Panther Courtney Mountifield made it 3-3 with a 6-2, 6-3 sixth singles triumph over Dylan Page, but Chow outlasted Jackson Frons, 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (2) in the fifth spot to put the Ephs on the verge.
With first and fourth singles both tied at 5-2 in the third set, Lunghino put the finishing touches on a 6-7, 6-3, 6-2 comeback win over Zach Weiss at No. 4. With all eyes on the first singles match between Meyer and Johnston, the Eph senior came through, closing out a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3 victory.
Singles competition
1. Trey Meyer (WILLIAMS) def. Alex Johnston (MID) 6-2, 6-7 (0-4), 6-3
2. Matt Micheli (WILLIAMS) def. Brantner Jones (MID) 6-3, 6-2
3. Felix Sun (WILLIAMS) def. Palmer Campbell (MID) 6-2, 6-0
4. Spencer Lunghino (MID) def. Zach Weiss (WILLIAMS) 6-7, 6-3, 6-2
5. Bryan Chow (WILLIAMS) def. Jackson Frons (MID) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (2-0)
6. Courtney Mountifield (MID) def. Dylan Page (WILLIAMS) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Alex Johnston/Andrew Lebovitz (MID) def. Alex Schidlovsky/Trey Meyer (WILLIAMS) 8-5
2. Felix Sun/Matt Micheli (WILLIAMS) def. Brantner Jones/James Burke (MID) 8-4
3. Spencer Lunghino/Palmer Campbell (MID) def. Bryan Chow/Brian Astrachan
