The fourth-ranked Middlebury men's tennis team eased past Christopher Newport 5-1 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers advance to the regional final on Sunday, which is taking place at Goucher College with Johns Hopkins University serving as the host school. 
 
HIGHLIGHTS

• Middlebury's Joe Mairs and Julian Wu opened the match with an 8-3 victory in the third spot to put the squad up 1-0.
• Neel Epstein and Robby Ward earned an 8-5 win in the middle of the lineup.
• The Captains grabbed their sole point in the top spot, edging Panther pair Aidan Harris and Noah Laber 8-6.
• Laber eased to a 6-1, 6-0 victory at the top of the lineup to start singles strong.
• Epstein grabbed the next point at #3 with a straight-set sweep (6-2, 6-0). 
• Wu clinched the match in the fourth slot, claiming a 6-1, 6-2 triumph. 
• When the contest finished, #2 Harris, #5 Ward and #6 Zihao Yuan had each won their first set. 

NOTES

• Today's match marked the first meeting between Middlebury and Christopher Newport.
• Laber claimed his five-consecutive singles victory. 
• The Panthers are making their 20th appearance in the tournament, increasing their all-time record to 54-20. 
• Middlebury continues its pursuit of the program's fourth NCAA title with the regional final on Sunday. 

 
The Panthers take on #10 Johns Hopkins at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday with a trip to the NCAA Quarterfinals on the line.