The Middlebury women's tennis team advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the second time in three years and fourth time overall with a 5-4 win at Bowdoin in an NCAA Regional final match-up. The Panthers (11-6) will play Emory in the quarterfinals on Monday, May 18 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, while Bowdoin wraps up its season at 14-6.

The Panthers came back from a 4-2 deficit, winning two three-set matches in singles play to clinch the win. Middlebury and Bowdoin have faced each other in each of the last four NCAA tournaments and five out of the last six years. The teams were 2-2 in their previous four meetings.

Middlebury held a 2-1 advantage after doubles play after trailing 1-0. Tess Trinka and Kyra Silitch put the Polar Bears on top 1-0 with an 8-5 win at #2. The Panthers evened the match at 1-1 after Alexandra Fields and Lauren Amos earned an 8-5 victory over Emma Chow and Pilar Giffenig in the third slot. Middlebury took its first lead of the day when Lily Bondy and Ria Gerger were 8-6 victors over Joulia Likhanskaia and Tiffany Cheng at #1.

Bowdoin made it a 2-2 match in singles play after Likhanskaia topped Gerger 6-4, 6-2 in the top spot. The Polar Bears took their first lead of the day at #5 singles after Samantha Stalder defeated Margot Marchese 6-1, 7-5. The lead increased to 4-2 when Silitch was a 6-2, 6-2 winner over Kaysee Orozco in the fourth spot. Middlebury came within one when Bondy earned a 7-6, 6-2 win over Trinka at #3 singles.

At #6, Katie Paradies forced a third set after coming back from a 4-2 deficit in the second, as she tallied Middlebury's fourth point following a crucial 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 match to pull the Panthers even with Bowdoin at 4-4. The match was decided at #2 after Cheng forced a third set against Fields to keep Bowdoin alive. Fields held on for the 7-6, 4-6, 6-0 victory to clinch the quarterfinal berth for Middlebury.