Third-seeded Middlebury advanced to the NESCAC Semifinals with a 5-3 win Friday over sixth-seeded Tufts (8-9). The three-day tournament is being hosted by the Panthers and the match was played in the Nelson Recreation Center. Middlebury (14-6) will take on second-seeded Wesleyan at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.

The Jumbos moved out to a 2-1 advantage following doubles. The visitors picked up an 8-5 victory at No. 2, before moving their lead to 2-0 with an 8-6 triumph at No. 3. The Panthers cut the advantage in half when the top tandem of Lubomir Cuba and Peter Martin rallied from a 5-4 deficit for an 8-5 win over Boris Sorkin and Carl-Herman Grant.

During singles play, the Panthers leveled the match at 2-2 behind a 6-0, 6-2 victory from Nate Eazor at No. 5 over Jack Moldenhauer. Noah Farrell gave Middlebury the lead for good, posting a 6-3, 6-2 triumph against Paris Pentousis in the second flight, while Adam Guo followed with a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 4 for a 4-2 Panther edge.

The Jumbos pulled to within 4-3 behind a three-set victory at No 3. Shortly after, Cuba defeated Sorkin in the top spot by scores of 7-6 (5), 6-1 to clinch the victory.

The remaining match went unfinished, as Middlebury's Stanley Morris won the opening set 6-2 against Ben Biswas and was up 4-2 in the second.