Allie Will’s run in the NCAA Women’s Tennis Singles Championships came to an end on Sunday when she fell to Stanford’s Nicole Gibbs in three sets.
Will came into the match ranked No. 1 in the country but was unable to come back and defeat Gibbs after forcing a third set.
“Allie played her best match of the entire tournament,” coach Roland Thornqvist said. “It was a great match against [Gibbs]. You have to give a lot of credit to [Gibbs], she found a way in the third set.”
Gibbs jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead and took the first set 6-2.
Will fought back in the second, breaking Gibbs twice and taking a 3-0 lead. Gibbs evened the match at 4-4, but Will broke back and was able to take the second set 6-4.
“Allie really made it tough and physical in the second set with some deep, big, heavy forehands in the second set and was able to wear [Gibbs] down a little,” Thornqvist said.
In the third set, Gibbs pushed ahead, getting an early break point.
Will wasn’t able to hold Gibbs off and fell behind 5-1. Will then won eight of the next 11 points and cut Gibbs’ lead to 5-3, but Gibbs put Will away and won the set 6-3.
“There was a pivotal game when [Gibbs] was up 3-1 and made it 4-1,” Thornqvist said.
“She found a way to get that game and that was the difference. If it had been 3-2, it would have been a different match”
Will had dominated the singles competition until this match, winning her first four matches in straight sets.
In doubles play, Will and her playing partner, Sofie Oyen, fell in the first round to Baylor’s team of Ema Burgic and Nina Secerbegovic.
Will ends her junior season with a 26-3 record, and a 109-13 mark for her career.
