The Middlebury women's tennis team, ranked eighth nationally, earned a narrow 5-4 home victory over third-ranked Amherst in its final regular season match at Proctor Tennis Courts. The Panthers (9-5, 5-2) will return to the court when they play host to the NESCAC Championship next Friday through Sunday.

Middlebury raced out to an early 2-1 lead after doubles play. The Panther tandem of Kaysee Orozco and Jennifer Sundstrom fell by an 8-2 score against Jackie Calla and Maddy Sung in the #2 spot, but the third-flight duo of Lauren Amos and Alexandra Fields evened the match at 1-1 via an 8-3 victory over Sarah Monteagudo and Safi Aly.

With the key third point in the balance at #1, Middlebury's Ria Gerger and Lily Bondy led 7-4 against Amherst's Vickie Ip and Sue Ghosh. The Jeff team claimed the next three games and tied the match at 7-7, but Gerger and Bondy won two-straight games for the 9-7 triumph.

In singles, Gerger gave the hosts a 3-1 lead when she picked up a point at #1 due to retirement from Ip. In the back-and-forth match, Ghosh pulled Amherst to within one at 3-2 with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Fields at #2. Bondy was the next off the court and gave Middlebury a 4-2 advantage thanks to a 6-3, 6-4 win over Calla in the third slot.

In the fifth spot, Margot Marchese fell in straight sets against Megan Adamo by scores of 6-4, 7-6 (5), but Orozco clinched the fifth point with a 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win at #4 over Monteagudo. Orozco trailed 3-2 in the third set before rallying for the crucial point.

With the Panthers ahead 5-3, the final point of the match came at #6 when Amherst's Claire Carpenter was victorious by scores of 7-6 (9), 0-6, 6-2 over Katie Paradies.