Sixth-ranked Tigers drop heartbreaker in NCAA quarterfinals; singles and doubles play begins Saturday

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May 17, 2006

May 17, 2006, Santa Cruz, Calif. - DePauw's season came to an end at the NCAA Division III quarterfinals as the sixth-ranked Tigers dropped a 5-4 decision to fourth-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the national quarterfinals.

DePauw jumped out to a 2-1 lead after winning at first and third doubles. Liz Bondi and Amrita Padda, the top-seeded doubles team in Division III defeated Jeannine Liang and Yassie Entekhabi by an 8-1 score, while Alex Nelson and Betsey Flanzer beat Kristen Handley and Lisa Steckmest by an 8-5 count. Claremont's number two team of Jessica Nagasago and Allison Laygo defeated Erin Andrade and Connie Shim, 8-6.

The Athenas evened the score at 2-2 as Entekhabi beat Padda at number two by a 6-2, 6-1 score. Bondi, the top-seeded Division III singles player, beat Liang 6-3, 7-5 at the number one slot before Flanzer pushed the Tigers lead to 4-2 with a 6-0, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Laygo at number four.

Claremont's Emily Johnston then defeated Shim at number six by a 7-6 (8-6), 6-0 score and Nagasago beat Alex Nelson 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-1) at the number three spot to even the match at 4-4.

The match came down to number five singles where Stephanie Hammond defeated Kristine Lewry in three sets 7-6, 1-6, 6-4.

DePauw finished its season at 24-2, while Claremont improved to 19-3 and advanced to the national semifinals.

Bondi and Padda will begin play in the Division III Singles Championship on May 20, while the teams of Bondi/Padda and Andrade/Shim will compete in the Doubles Championship.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps vs DePauw University
5/17/2006 at Santa Cruz, Calif.

#4 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 5, #6 DePauw University 4

 Singles competition 
1. Liz Bondi (DEPAUW) def. Jeannine Liang (CMS) 6-3, 7-5
2. Yassie Entekhabi (CMS) def. Amrita Padda (DEPAUW) 6-2, 6-1
3. Jessica Nagasago (CMS) def. Alex Nelson (DEPAUW) 6-1, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-1)
4. Betsey Flanzer (DEPAUW) def. Allison Laygo (CMS) 6-0, 7-6 (8-6)
5. Stephanie Hammond (CMS) def. Kristine Lewry (DEPAUW) 7-6, 1-6, 6-4
6. Emily Johnston (CMS) def. Connie Shim (DEPAUW) 7-6 (8-6), 6-0

 Doubles competition 
1. Liz Bondi/Amrita Padda (DEPAUW) def. Jeannine Liang/Yassie Entekhabi (CMS) 8-1
2. Jessica Nagasago/Allison Laygo (CMS) def. Erin Andrade/Connie Shim (DEPAUW) 8-6
3. Alex Nelson/Betsey Flanzer (DEPAUW) def. Kristen Handley/Lisa Steckmest (CMS) 8-5

Match Notes:
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 19-3; National ranking #4
DePauw University 24-2; National ranking #6
NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Quarterfinal at U. of California, Santa Cruz
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