ORLANDO – Since the start of the regular season back in February, the University of Chicago women's tennis team strung together the best series of accolades in program history. They became the first UChicago women's squad to win the ITA National Indoor Championship; the first roster to be ranked No. 1 in the ITA national poll; the third team to win a conference title; and the second squad to reach the NCAA Division III Championship final.
The No. 1-ranked Maroons came into Wednesday's NCAA national title match riding a program-record 22-match winning streak. Their opponent was No. 4-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (27-3 record), who were playing in their third-straight national championship final.
CMS was able to get a lead coming out of doubles and kept UChicago at bay the rest of the way as the Maroons wrapped up a historic season with a 5-1 loss. The Maroon women (22-2 record) earned their second national runner-up finish, a feat replicated by the 2012 squad.
UChicago took early leads on all three courts to begin doubles action. However, the Athenas answered back and seized wins at No. 1 and No. 3 by 8-6 margins. The Maroons got on the board with an 8-3 victory at No. 2 by senior Eugenia Lee and junior Claudia Ng.
CMS took that momentum into singles play and grabbed the first set at all six positions. The Athenas would eventually pick up wins at No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6 to clinch the title. First-year Sylwia Mikos shook off a 2-6 first set to take the second set 6-1 at the No. 1 slot. She led 4-1 in the third set when CMS ended the proceedings with its fifth team point.
"The women played a really, really good match but CMS was just a little better today," Head Coach Jay Tee said. "We were aggressive, poised, disciplined, and fought so hard. But CMS made us play so many extra balls than we were used to, so credit goes to them. I can't say enough good things about our team and season as a whole. All that we accomplished and achieved was due to the work and commitment that each member of the team put in starting in January. Our seniors were masterful at creating a positive team environment that fostered a united, positive and fun team culture. It was an absolute joy and privilege to be their coach and I can't thank them all enough for giving me the best year of my life."
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 5, UChicago 1
Singles
1. Sylwia Mikos (UC) vs. Crystal Juan (CMS) 2-6, 6-1, 4-1, unfinished
2. Shianna Guo (UC) vs. Sydney Lee (CMS) 3-6, 2-3, unfinished
3. Claudia Ng (UC) vs. Audrey Yoon (CMS) 2-6, 3-5, unfinished
4. Ella Brissett (CMS) def. Nicole Geller (UC) 6-4, 6-3
5. Nikolina Batoshvili (CMS) def. Miranda Yuan (UC) 6-4, 6-3
6. Sarah Bahsoun (CMS) def. Lauren Park (UC) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles
1. Nikolina Batoshvili/Alisha Chulani (CMS) def. Sylwia Mikos/Shianna Guo (UC) 8-6
2. Eugenia Lee/Claudia Ng (UC) def. Gabby Lee/Sydney Lee (CMS) 8-3
3. Sarah Bahsoun/Devon Wolfe (CMS) def. Nicole Geller/Lauren Park (UC) 8-6
NEXT MATCHES:
- Friday, May 27 @ 8:45 AM (ET) – UChicago at NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships (at Orlando, Fla.)
