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Things looked bleak for the University of Chicago at the ITA Division III Women’s National Team Indoor Championship.

The third-seeded Maroons lost all three doubles points in their championship match against No. 1 Emory. Once singles play began, they lost one match and dropped first sets in two others.

But youthful UChicago staged an improbable rally against its conference rival, roaring back to beat defending champion Emory 5-4 and secure the first national indoor title in program history on Sunday in Nicholasville, Ky.

"I'm not sure I can put into words what this team pulled off today," UChicago head coach Jay Tee said. "Down 0-3 after doubles after having a match point at No. 2, dropping three first sets, and then going down 0-4 to the reigning UAA and NCAA champions – but the team never gave up.”

UChicago beat MIT 6-3 in the quarterfinals and No. 2 Pomona-Pitzer 5-4 in the semifinals to set up the showdown with Emory.

The Maroons were one singles loss away from suffering the same fate they did in 2010 and 2011 when Emory beat them in the title match.

But they battled back from the brink of defeat with straight-set wins from freshmen Sylwia Mikos, Nicole Geller and Miranda Yuan. Mikos upset top-ranked Eliza McPherron 6-2, 6-3 at the No. 1 spot, Geller beat Ana Cristina Perez 6-4, 6-3 at No. 4 and Yuan beat Jessica Fatemi 6-2, 6-4 at No. 5.

Two matches remained on court, and yet another freshman, Shianna Guo, pulled UChicago even at 4-4 with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 win over Christina Watson, last year’s NCAA singles finalist, at the No. 2 spot.

It came down to a three-set showdown at the No. 3 spot. Junior Claudia Ng rallied to beat Emma Cartledge 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to clinch the historic title for the Maroons.

The last time UChicago had defeated Emory was in the 2012 UAA championship match.

“To beat the No. 1-ranked team in the country in the finals of a national tournament takes some serious guts, and for the third day in a row, the team came up big in the biggest moments,” Tee said. “I'm so incredibly happy for the players and what they accomplished this weekend. It's been an absolute privilege to share a court with them and I can't wait to see what else they accomplish this year."

UChicago 5, Emory 4

Singles

1. Sylwia Mikos (UC) def. Eliza McPherron (EU) 6-2, 6-3

2. Shianna Guo (UC) def. Christina Watson (EU) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1

3. Claudia Ng (UC) def. Emma Cartledge (EU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1

4. Nicole Geller (UC) def. Ana Cristina Perez (EU) 6-4, 6-3

5. Miranda Yuan (UC) def. Jessica Fatemi (EU) 6-2, 6-4

6. Alexa Goetz (EU) def. Annika Pandey (UC) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles

1. Emma Cartledge/Xuanjin Li (EU) def. Sylwia Mikos/Shianna Guo (UC) 8-7

2. Christina Watson/Ana Cristina Perez (EU) def. Claudia Ng/Eugenia Lee (UC) 8-7

3. Eliza McPherron/Jessica Fatemi (EU) def. Annika Pandey/Nicole Geller (UC) 8-2

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About Rhiannon Potkey

Rhiannon Potkey is a veteran sportswriter with more than two decades of experience in journalism. Potkey has covered many sports at many levels and has a passion for finding great stories. Potkey has covered the U.S. Open, junior sectional and national events, college conference championships and Davis Cup matches. Potkey is currently Content Strategist for Tennis Recruiting. You can reach Rhiannon by email at [email protected].