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Diya Pachamuthu celebrates after winning a point during doubles action against Tufts in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Annica Nassiry
Diya Pachamuthu clinched the match for the Panthers.
2
Tufts University TUFTSWT (13-7)
4
Winner Middlebury MIDDW (14-6)
Tufts University TUFTSWT
(13-7)
2
Final
4
Middlebury MIDDW
(14-6)
Winner

Match Recap: Women's Tennis |

#12 Middlebury Pushes Past #20 Tufts In NCAA Second Round

The 12th-ranked Middlebury women's tennis team grinded out a 4-2 triumph over #20 Tufts during Saturday's second round of the NCAA Tournament inside the Nelson Recreation Center.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Lulu Wu and Ananya Annapantula made quick work with a 6-1 decision at #2 to grab early momentum to open doubles.
  • The other two flights were vying to see who could close out the first point. Ren Barton and Diya Pachamuthu did just that, securing a 7-5 victory over Claudia Grove and Melanie Woodbury in the third slot, garnering the 1-0 lead.
  • Tufts tied the contest via a 7-5, 6-0 triumph by Ellie Gershaw in the fourth position of singles action.
  • Anna Lardner and Rachel Cranley split the first two sets by 6-1 and 6-3 lines in the second spot. The Middlebury player held strong in the decisive third with a 6-3 victory, pushing the navy and white ahead 2-1.
  • Woodbury rallied from a 6-2 defeat in the opening frame at #3, grabbing 7-6 (7-1) and 6-1 sets to tie the match.
  • During the top flight, Elsie Van Wieren went back and forth with Mitchell, claiming the first set 6-2 before dropping a 7-6 (8-6) battle. The Panther rode the positive wave of emotion, jumping out to a 5-0 lead before sealing the decisive frame (6-3) to secure the third point of the battle.
  • Pachamuthu clinched the match at #5, sidestepping Kyra McCandless (6-4, 7-5) and sending the Panthers to the regional final.

NOTES

  • Brooklyn Bindas and Natalie Hu had a 6-5 lead over Van Wieren and Lardner during the top flight when doubles action was halted.
  • At the time of the match clinching, Charlotte McCann held a 6-4, 1-0 lead in the sixth singles spot.
  • Lardner and Pachamuthu claimed their 45th and 15th career singles victories, respectively.
  • Wu and Annapantula grabbed their seventh victory in a row as a duo.
  • The sides met for the 40th time and the second during NCAA Tournament action. Middlebury holds a 22-18 edge in the series.

The Panthers move on to Sunday's regional final against #5 Babson. Action is set to begin at 11:00 a.m. from the Outdoor Tennis Courts.

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