Cardinals Narrowly Escape Amherst, 4-3, in NESCAC Semifinal Triumph

Box Score **MIDDLEBURY, VT. – **The Wesleyan women's tennis team will play for a sixth NESCAC Championship crown as they enter the tournament finals for a seventh consecutive season following a heroic performance by freshman

Mariia Kornilova on Saturday afternoon, downing #4 Amherst College in a 4-3 victory at Middlebury College.

In a wild finish to advance to the 2026 NESCAC Championship finals, the #1 Cardinals watched a heart-stopping match at No. 4 as Kornilova fought for a clinching point. Kornilova cruised through a standard finish in set one, leading Greta Stechschulte but found herself tied up as Stechschulte collected set two in extra points. A third set tiebreak held the match in limbo, and it was Kornilova that steadily climbed to six to send the Cardinals to Sunday's finals in a stunning 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 finish.

The Mammoths caught a break early in the match, clinching a coveted doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. Sophie Diop and Greta Stechschulte saw an end to

Kendall Smith '29 and Kornilova's undefeated run. The duo now stand 12-1. At No. 2,

Sarah Youngberg '26 and

Lara Afolayanka '29 defeated Tina She and Karolina Dobiecka, 6-1.

Tying the match up at one, Afolayanka was the first to victory through individual play, finishing Cody Huang at No. 3 with a 6-4, 6-1 win. Youngberg, stationed at No. 5, eased her way to a 6-2, 6-4 point over Rachel Roth with the Cardinals now leading 2-1.

Natalia Leroy '28, anchoring the Cardinals at No. 6, delivered two set wins in a row after forcing Lily Dounchis to a tiebreak and closed the 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 match win as the Cardinals waited for a fourth point.

The Cardinals will face #2 Bowdoin on Sunday, May 3, in the tournament finals at 11 a.m.