NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. – The University of Chicago women's tennis team mounted an epic rally against conference rival Emory University to claim the ITA Division III National Team Indoor Championship title by a 5-4 score on Sunday.

The Maroons (8-1 record) entered the three-day tournament as the No. 3 seed in the eight-team field, while the Eagles (3-2 record) were the top seed. The league foes have faced each other in the ITA Indoor finals previously in both 2010 and 2011. Emory came out the victors in each instance.

History looked like it was repeating itself after the early stages of the match-up. Emory won all three doubles spots, including a pair of narrow 8-7 decisions.

After another victory at No. 6 singles, the Eagles jumped ahead 4-0 and were only one win away from capturing the championship. But the Maroons had other plans.

UChicago was officially on the comeback trail after straight-set victories by first-years Sylwia Mikos at No. 1, Nicole Geller at No. 4 and Miranda Yuan at No. 5. Mikos took down the No. 1-ranked player in the country (6-2, 6-3), while Geller and Yuan won 6-4, 6-3 and 6-2, 6-4, respectively.

Two matches remained as the result hung in the balance. At the No. 2 position, first-year Shianna Guo shook off a first-set loss and definitively took over the next two sets. Guo defeated last year's NCAA singles finalist by a final score of 2-6, 6-3, 6-1.

With the team score knotted up, it all came down to a three-set showdown at No. 3 singles. Junior Claudia Ng dropped the first set 6-4, but switched the momentum with a 6-3 second set. The deciding third set was all Ng as she clinched the match 6-1.

The last time UChicago defeated Emory was the 2012 UAA Championship match.

"I'm not sure I can put into words what this team pulled off today," Head Coach Jay Tee said. "Down 0-3 after doubles after having a match point at No. 2, dropping three first sets, and then going down 0-4 to the reigning UAA and NCAA champions – but the team never gave up. To beat the No. 1-ranked team in the country in the finals of a national tournament takes some serious guts, and for the third day in-a-row, the team came up big in the biggest moments. I'm so incredibly happy for the players and what they accomplished this weekend. It's been an absolute privilege to share a court with them and I can't wait to see what else they accomplish this year."

UChicago 5, Emory 4
Singles
1. Sylwia Mikos (UC) def. Eliza McPherron (EU) 6-2, 6-3
2. Shianna Guo (UC) def. Christina Watson (EU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
3. Claudia Ng (UC) def. Emma Cartledge (EU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
4. Nicole Geller (UC) def. Ana Cristina Perez (EU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Miranda Yuan (UC) def. Jessica Fatemi (EU) 6-2, 6-4
6. Alexa Goetz (EU) def. Annika Pandey (UC) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
1. Emma Cartledge/Xuanjin Li (EU) def. Sylwia Mikos/Shianna Guo (UC) 8-7
2. Christina Watson/Ana Cristina Perez (EU) def. Claudia Ng/Eugenia Lee (UC) 8-7
3. Eliza McPherron/Jessica Fatemi (EU) def. Annika Pandey/Nicole Geller (UC) 8-2

NEXT MATCH:

• Monday, March 21 @ 5:30 PM – UChicago at Trinity University (Texas)