The Mules moved up in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) standings this week after the women’s tennis team took exciting victories in two out of its three matches.

The first match resulted in a 5-4 comeback win for Colby over rival Bates College. Katie Brezinski ’11 and Sally Holmes ’13 teamed up in the third doubles spot to earn the Mules’ lone doubles win of the day with a 9-8 (6) victory. Down 2-1 going into the singles matches, Tess Perese ’14 came from behind after being down 4-1 in the first set to win 7-6 (1), 6-2. Brezinski, Kathryn Vergeyle ’12 and Holmes pulled through with three straight- set victories at third, fifth and sixth singles, respectively.

Going into the second match of the week versus Wesleyan University, the Mules were 1-2 in the conference and 3-5 overall for the spring season. Wesleyan came out strong and bested the Mules in the first two doubles matches and the top three singles matches. However, Vergeyle won fourth singles (6-3, retired), and Holmes won fifth singles (6-4, 6-2). Mckenzie Love ’13 further closed the gap when she won sixth singles in a brutal three-set match against Wesleyan’s Nicki Softness (6-4, 4-6, 7-6). In the third doubles matchup, Brezinski and Holmes defeated Linda McDougal and Softness, 8-0. The final score was 5-4, and the close loss dropped Colby to 1-3 in the conference and 3-6 overall this spring.

The third and final match of the week was at Connecticut College, and the Mules made up for their previous loss with a crushing 6-3 victory. To start off the day, Colby won all three doubles matches. Katie Muto ’11 and Perese won 9-8 (6), Vergeyle and Sarah Wiener ’13 won 8-3, and Holmes and Brezinski finished it off with an 8-4 win. In the singles matches, Brezinski, Holmes, and Love had wins in the second, fifth and sixth spots. Brezinski won an exciting 6-4, 6-7 (8-6), 10-5 three-setter. Holmes beat Conn College’s Barone 6-2, 6-2, and Love’s match ended 6-3, 6-3.

The Mules have three more matches this season; a home match versus 12th-ranked Bowdoin College (April 14), a home match versus second-ranked Amherst College(April 16) and an away match against Hamilton College (April 23).