HAVERFORD, Pa. - The No. 32 Swarthmore College women's tennis team upset second-seeded Haverford College, 5-4, to advance to Saturday's Centennial Championship at Johns Hopkins University.

Kathleen Shiffer played hero with a gritty three-set victory in No. 2 singles. After dropping the first set, the sophomore won via tiebreaker in the second set. She then outlasted her opponent with a 6-3 final set to clinch victory for Swarthmore. 

DOUBLES
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Swarthmore took a crucial 2-1 advantage in doubles action with a pair of wins. Nathalie Williams/ Erica Stutz led the way with a 8-5 victory to claim the opening match. The Fords then evened things up with a 8-6 decision over Oviya Kumaran/ Spencer Watts in No. 2 action.

- Lola Diaz/ Shiffer came up clutch with a pivotal victory in No. 3 doubles. After surrendering an early lead in the match, the Garnet duo bounced back with a 7-3 advantage in the tiebreaker. 

SINGLES
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Diaz fell in top singles, 6-1, 6-3, as the Fords evened the team score. Lara Geib then put Swarthmore back in front with the team's third victory in No. 6 singles. Geib won the opening set 6-4, before cruising to a 6-0 decision to win in straight sets. 

- Swarthmore pulled within one win of clinching after a Jenny Lewis win in No. 4 action. Lewis took the opening set 6-2, and then followed with a 6-3 closing set.

- The Fords overtook Ella Strickler in a set-two tiebreaker in No. 3 singles. Strickler dropped the first set 6-1, but battled to a tiebreaker in the second set. The Fords then held on for a 7-1 decision in the tiebreaker. 

- Haverford tied things up with a win against Kumaran in No. 5 singles. The Fords took Kumaran to a tiebreaker with a 8-6 decision in the opening set, before rallying for a 6-0 decision in set two.

- Shiffer dropped the opening set, 6-2, in No. 2 singles. The sophomore then clawed her way to a tiebreaker in the second set, before staying alive with a 7-4 win. Shiffer then punched Swarthmore's ticket to the finals with a 6-3 victory in the third set. 

UP NEXT
The Garnet (12-5) travel to No. 7 Johns Hopkins University in the Centennial Championship on Saturday.