HAVERFORD, Pa. – Playing a rematch of last year's thrilling Centennial Conference semifinal, Swarthmore avenged its loss from a year ago with a 7-2 victory on Tuesday afternoon against the Haverford College women's tennis team. The Fords (7-6, 7-2 CC) also dropped the regular season meeting between these two teams last spring before reversing that result in the postseason en route to the Centennial Conference Championship match. Haverford appears in line to have that same opportunity again this spring as the Fords and No. 25 Garnet came into today battling for second place in the conference standings.
Haverford's point in doubles came at No. 3 where Sarah Evenson and Claire Johnson won by a convincing 8-3 score. The Evenson/Johnson pairing is now 5-1 overall in Centennial Conference play and has won three straight matches together. That duo has given up more than three points just once during its five conference victories.
Emily Shutman won No. 1 singles for the Fords to secure Haverford's second point. Matched up against the No. 23 player in the Atlantic South Region, Shutman got the quick jump on Sonia Varma with a 6-2 win during the opening set. The Fords' junior co-captain then backed up that result with another 6-2 win in the second. Shutman's win marked a milestone for the Fords' No. 1 player as it was the first in her career against a ranked opponent. With her win on Tuesday, Shutman now holds a 5-3 record in Centennial Conference singles play at the top of the lineup.
The rival Garnet had the lead after doubles as they won an 8-3 decision in the second doubles match and claimed an 8-2 win at the top of the lineup. Swarthmore went on to win Nos. 2-6 singles in straight sets. Despite Swarthmore's victory in the Hood Trophy race, Haverford is still holding a 7-6 advantage with five sports yet to be contested.
Playing a challenging schedule, each of Haverford's six defeats this season have come to nationally-ranked opposition. The Fords will get another chance for a nationally-ranked win this Friday when the Fords play No. 37 TCNJ at 4 p.m. Haverford can officially lock up third place in the Centennial Conference standings this Saturday when it hosts Dickinson for a 12 p.m. noon start.