MIDDLETOWN, CT. — The #17 Amherst College men's tennis team opened the NESCAC tournament with a 4–0 win over No. 20 Williams on Friday morning at Wesleyan University's courts. Amherst improved to 13–5 overall with the victory, and the Mammoths advanced behind strong doubles play and timely singles wins from Rex Harrison, Andreas Sillaste, and Albert Hu.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Amherst grabbed the doubles point by winning at Nos. 1 and 2 before the third match was left unfinished once the point was clinched. The No. 2 pairing of George Chaidemenos and Rex Harrison gave Amherst a key comeback win after falling behind a break, then breaking back late to seal the match, including two clean return winners in the final stretch.
• The singles order followed with Rex Harrison striking first, Andreas Sillaste coming through next, and Albert Hu delivering the clinching fourth point to put Amherst into the semifinals. Harrison's win at No. 5 was a steady straight-sets result, while Sillaste and Hu each backed that up with efficient performances that kept Amherst in control throughout the morning.
• Amherst also got important work from Lukas Frangenberg and Aldiyar Abzhan, who were in command when play stopped, and the lineup overall showed the kind of depth the Mammoths will need with the postseason moving deeper. Williams, ranked No. 20 nationally, gave Amherst a quality test, but the Mammoths handled the pressure well and closed out the match without allowing it to get late.

RESULTS (4–0, W):

DOUBLES:
1. Andreas Sillaste / Lukas Frangenberg (A) def. Nicholas Chen / Simon Volkema (W), 6–2.
2. George Chaidemenos / Rex Harrison (A) def. William Luke / Carter Fayard (W), 7–5.
3. Ronald Gualario / Albert Hu (A) vs. Anthony Lim / Matthew Yang (W), 6–5.

SINGLES:
1. Andreas Sillaste (A) def. Simon Volkema (W), 6–4, 6–3.
2. George Chaidemenos (A) vs. Nicholas Chen (W), 3–6, 3–5, unfinished.
3. Lukas Frangenberg (A) vs. William Luke (W), 6–3, 2–6, 2–1, unfinished.
4. Aldiyar Abzhan (A) vs. Anthony Lim (W), 6–4, 3–5, unfinished.
5. Rex Harrison (A) def. Jack Ling (W), 6–2, 6–1.
6. Albert Hu (A) def. Carter Fayard (W), 6–2, 6–2.

UP NEXT

Amherst now turns to a semifinal matchup with No. 4 Tufts, the top seed in the NESCAC tournament, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 2 at Wesleyan University. The Jumbos beat Amherst 6–1 in the regular season, so the Mammoths will need another sharp performance to keep their postseason run going.