The fourth-ranked Middlebury men's tennis team cruised past Hamilton 9-0 Sunday in the final match of the regular season for both teams. The Panthers enter the NESCAC Tournament with a 12-3 record and winners of eight of their last nine matches. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• The Panther tandem of Aidan Harris and Noah Laber posted the first point with an 8-2 victory at the top of the lineup.
• At #3, the duo of Julian Wu and Joe Mairs raced out to leads of 3-1 and 5-2 on its way to an 8-4 win, while Neel Epstein and Robby Ward followed minutes later by pulling away for an 8-5 triumph in the second spot.
• Ward kept the momentum going and earned a 6-1, 6-0 win at #4 to increase the Middlebury lead to 4-0.
• Hugh Hentschel clinched the match for the Panthers, posting a 6-1, 6-0 triumph at the bottom of the lineup, before Epstein tallied a 6-3, 6-4 victory at second singles.
• Harris continued the run of straight-set wins, recording a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over his opponent in the #1 spot.
• Nathan Jackson battled back after dropping the opening set in the fifth slot to win in a third-set superbreaker by scores of 2-6, 6-1, 1-0 (6) for an 8-0 Middlebury lead.
• In the third position, Wu kept his unbeaten streak intact this spring, easing to a 6-0, 6-1 win to complete the sweep.

NOTES

• Ward collected his 30th career single win on Sunday (30-14). His 18 victories (18-5) this year rank him second on the Panther squad this year.
• Jackson picked up his 10th career win (10-4).
• Wu increased his winning streak to 20 and earned his team-leading 22nd victory (22-2) of the season.
• Middlebury and Hamilton played for the 14th meeting in the all-time series with the Panthers having never lost to the Continentals. 

The Panthers return to action next weekend when they compete in the NESCAC Tournament. Seedings and matchups will be announced in the upcoming days by the conference office.