Courtesy of Emory Athletics
The women’s tennis team successfully completed their 2014 season by earning a Division III national title, topping second-ranked Amherst College (Mass.) 5-1 on Wednesday in the championship match.
It was the Eagles’ sixth national title in program history, but the first for an immensely successful senior class that will leave the team as national champions. Emory finished third in both 2011 and 2012, and second in 2013 before getting over the hump this season.
“I couldn’t have asked to end on a better note,” senior captain Brenna Kelly said. “It hasn’t always been an easy road, but I’m proud of how we handled adversities.”
2014 was nearly flawless for the Eagles, who only dropped two matches on the season en route to a 28-2 record, and a perfect 20-0 mark against fellow D-III teams. After sweeping the University Athletic Association (UAA) championships in late April, the Eagles entered the national tournament ranked first in the nation.
“Our mindset was really just process and focus,” Kelly said. “We know we had done everything to prepare for this moment, and looking back on our hard work was a great reminder of how ready we were.”
They didn’t disappoint. Not only did the team win each of their five matches in the tournament, but also they were barely threatened as they prevailed by a combined margin of 25-3. The Eagles swept Berry College and Washington & Lee College (Va.) at home in the first two rounds before traveling to Claremont, Calif. and dispatching UAA rival Washington University (Mo.) and Johns Hopkins University (Md.), each by a score of 5-1.
This led to the championship match, a heavyweight battle between the first- and second-ranked D-III teams in the country. The Eagles held a slim 2-1 edge after the doubles matches, falling in the top match but winning the second and third. The team of sophomore Beatrice Rosen and freshman Michelle Satterfield made short work of their opponents, prevailing 8-1, while Kelly and freshman Katarina Su won in an 8-3 decision.
Emory needed to win just three of the five singles matches to clinch the title. First was freshman Melissa Goodman, with an emphatic 6-1, 6-2 victory in the fourth spot, followed by senior Gabrielle Clark with a 6-1, 6-4 win in the first match. Su sealed the deal in the number six spot, triumphing 6-2, 6-3.
The Eagles’ championship rout was a fitting end to a dominant season. The team’s 28 wins set a program record, including 16 straight victories to end the season.
Clark will go on to compete in the singles competition–as the No. 1 ranked player nationally–and will once again pair with Satterfield for doubles. The rest of the Eagles will carry memories of one of the best teams in program history into the off season.
“I thought our team chemistry was exceptional this year,” Kelly said. “[…] I am so thankful for the friendships I’ve made on this team. We truly have some amazing girls.”
– By Ryan Smith
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