In a matchup of top-five nationally-ranked teams, the third-ranked Middlebury men's tennis team fell by a 5-4 score in NESCAC action at No. 5 Williams (8-2, 1-0). The match took place in the Lansing Chapman Rink. Middlebury (10-3, 2-1) returns to action tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. match at No. 15 Tufts.

During doubles play, the Ephs earned narrow victories in all three matches. The No. 1 flight was a 9-7 score, while the second and third slots were decided in a tiebreaker by identical 9-8 (4) tallies.

In singles action, the Panthers cut the lead to 3-2, claiming the first two matches to finish. William de Quant put the visitors on the board with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Sachin Raghavan at No. 2. Noah Farrell fought back from a set down, posting a 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 triumph against Austin Barr in the third position.

The Ephs recorded three-set victories at No. 1 and No. 4 to clinch the match.

Middlebury's Andre Xiao posted a narrow 7-6 (5), 7-5 win over Alex Taylor at No. 5, while Timo van der Geest earned a 5-7, 7-5, 10-8 victory against Atruro Kam at the bottom of the lineup.