Courtesy Middlebury Athletic Communications

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. - Fifth-seed Bowdoin won a tight 5-4 match over fourth-seed and host Middlebury in the first round of the 2008 NESCAC Women's Tennis Championship. The Polar Bears move to 12-6 on the year and will meet Williams in a NESCAC semifinal match in Middlebury at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday. The Panthers fall to 10-5 on the season and will hope for an NCAA at-large bid.

Middlebury took a 2-1 lead early after winning a pair of doubles matches. The third and final doubles contest saw Middlebury's Clare Burke and Jamie Haar come from 6-1 down to pick up an 9-7 win.

With the match tied at 3-3, Elizabeth Stone of Middlebury picked up a 6-2, 1-6, 6-0 win over Elizabeth Pedowitz of Bowdoin at #6 singles to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead.

Bowdoin answered at #3 singles as Sarah D'Elia defeated Elizabeth Emery 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to tie the match at 4-4. Rachel Waldman of Bowdoin already led Haar 3-0 in the third set at #5 singles, as she went on to a 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-0 victory.

No. 5 Bowdoin 5, at No. 4 Middlebury 4

Doubles
1 - Kristen Raymond/Sarah D’Elia (Bowdoin) def. Claire Smyser/Elizabeth Emery (Middlebury) – 8-1
2 - Clare Burke/Jamie Haar (Middlebury) def. Rachel Waldman/Brett Davis (Bowdoin) - 9-7
3 - Elizabeth Stone/Chandra Kurien (Middlebury) def. Elizabeth Pedowitz/Kaitlin Raymond (Bowdoin) - 8-3

Singles
1 - Kristen Raymond (Bowdoin) def. Claire Smyser (Middlebury) – 7-5, 6-2
2 - Sarah D’Elia (Bowdoin) def. Elizabeth Emery (Middlebury) – 6-4, 2-6, 6-4
3 - Chandra Kurien (Middlebury) def. Kaitlin Raymond (Bowdoin) – 6-0, 6-2
4 - Brett Davis (Bowdoin) def. Clare Burke (Middlebury) – 6-4, 6-4
5 - Rachel Waldman (Bowdoin) def. Jamie Haar (Middlebury) - 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 6-0
6 - Elizabeth Stone (Middlebury) def. Elizabeth Pedowitz (Bowdoin) – 6-2, 1-6, 6-0