AMHERST — Graduation won’t interfere with the Amherst College women’s tennis team’s run in the NCAA Tournament, or the NCAA Tournament won’t spoil graduation for the Mammoths’ three seniors, depending on the viewpoint.
Either way, Vickie Ip, Adrienne Irmer and Avery Wagman will walk at graduation, Sunday, then head to the airport a few hours later to head to Claremont, California, for the NCAA Division III quarterfinals.
“The rush is real,” Ip said. “But we’re really fortunate to have a coach like Jackie (Bagwell) who’s flexible about those things.”
Amherst, the No. 9-ranked team in the country, will face Williams at 9 p.m. Monday. The No. 2 Ephs are the defending national champions and have won eight championships in the past 10 years. Amherst last reached the semifinals in 2015 and lost in the title match in 2014. The Mammoths won their only title in 1999.
The rivals faced off twice this season. Williams won 7-2 in September and 6-3 in April.
“I think everybody’s ready to get some revenge,” Wagman said. “It’s nice to play people you’ve lost to because now you know how to do better. Everyone’s really pumped.”
Amherst (12-9) swept N.C. Wesleyan and Mary Washington 5-0 in the second and third rounds, respectively, to reach its 15th quarterfinal since 1995.
“It was nice to play different people. We play a lot of the same people in the Northeast,” Wagman said. “Not knowing anything about your opponents, everyone kind of relaxed and played their own game.”
The Mammoths bounced back after losing to Tufts in the opening round of the NESCAC Tournament. Four of the eight teams left in the bracket are from the NESCAC.
“Every time we lost we also figure out ways we can work on our game,” Ip said. “Next time we play we can attack more on their weaknesses. Every time it gets better.”
Amherst focused on consistency the past week in practice. They want to be able to keep the ball in play and force Williams to either make difficult shots or mistakes.
“We have a really solid game plan,” Ip said. “We’re trying to do our best and hopefully get into the Final Four.”