Panthers can't hang on to doubles lead, fall to No. 3 Middlebury

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University men's tennis team made things interesting on Saturday before falling to No. 3-ranked Middlebury College at the Chapman Tennis Courts, for its third consecutive loss. The No. 40-ranked Panthers had upset on their minds after taking two of three in doubles, but eventually succumbed dropping five of six in singles.

Junior Brett Buford and sophomore Charlie Werman had a fairly easy time with Middlebury's Ari Smolyar and Noah Farrett, defeating the duo 8-3 on court two. Freshman Justin P. Thompson and sophomore Sam Mitteldorf then clinched the doubles win with an 8-6 decision on court three. For both doubles pairs, it was their eighth wins of the season tying for the team lead.

Despite losing the first three matches at Nos. 1, 2 and 3 singles, the Panthers remained alive against the perennial powerhouse Middlebury as Werman rallied from a first-set loss to defeat Courtney Mountifield 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. However, Chapman fell on courts five and six to eventually lose the match. The victory was Werman's team-leading ninth singles win of the year and he's now won five of his last six matches.

Chapman will host Lewis & Clark on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Chapman Tennis Courts, looking to snap its current three-match slide heading into the heart of its conference schedule.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

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