CLAREMONT, Calif. — Bowdoin’s bid for its second NCAA Division III men’s tennis championship in three years fell short Wednesday afternoon as the Polar Bears lost 5-3 to New England Small College Athletic Conference rival Middlebury in the national final.

Middlebury (25-4), the only team to defeat Bowdoin (23-2) this year, won two of three doubles matches and three of the five completed singles matches. Kyle Schlanger earned the clinching point at No. 4 singles with a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3 win over Yangeng Jiang.

The only unfinished singles match was tied 5-5 in the third set.

Jiang and Kyle Wolfe picked up a point for Bowdoin at No. 2 doubles, Gil Roddy won in straight sets at No. 5 singles, and Luke Tercek recorded a three-set victory at No. 2 singles.

Bowdoin and Middlebury also played in the national final in 2016, with Bowdoin taking a 5-0 win. This year, the Polar Bears lost 8-1 to Middlebury during the regular season, then beat the Panthers 5-3 for the NESCAC championship.


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