The Williams College women's lacrosse team has secured its first NCAA Division III Tournament appearance since 2014, earning an at-large bid after finishing the regular season with a 9-7 record, including a 5-5 mark in the NESCAC. The No. 20-ranked Ephs will face Grove City College in the first round on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Geneva, New York. Senior captain Franny Donohue has been a standout, ranking second in the NESCAC in total points with 79, and she has consistently contributed throughout the season, including an impressive performance against then-No. 15 Scranton where she tallied three goals and four assists. This marks the seventh NCAA appearance for the program, with the Ephs previously finishing as runners-up in 1998 and 2000.
In men's lacrosse, the Ephs will also be competing in the NCAA Division III Tournament, having earned an at-large bid for the second consecutive year. They will take on No. 14-ranked St. John Fisher on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Wesleyan University. The Ephs (7-9, 3-7 NESCAC) secured their tournament spot with notable victories, including a comeback win against then-No. 15 Middlebury, where senior captain Ryan Johnson scored the game-winner with just five seconds left.
On the tennis courts, both the men's and women's teams are preparing for NCAA Tournament action. The No. 22 women's team has earned an at-large bid and will face SUNY New Paltz in the first round on Friday at MIT. First-year Ayanna Varma has been a key player, leading the team with 17 singles victories this season and earning All-NESCAC Second Team honors. The men's team, ranked No. 24, also saw recognition with senior captains Simon Volkema and Nicholas Chen earning All-NESCAC honors in singles and doubles. Volkema was named to the First Team in singles, while both players excelled in doubles, finishing with impressive records for the season.
The Williams softball team is set to compete in the NESCAC quarterfinals against Bowdoin on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. after finishing the regular season with a 22-16 overall record. The Ephs secured the fifth seed in the conference and will look to advance to the semifinals later that day. Williams has a strong postseason history, having won eight NESCAC championships, including titles in 2023 and 2024, and head coach Kris Herman recently celebrated her 900th career victory during a doubleheader against Amherst.
As the Ephs head into this crucial weekend, they aim to build on their recent successes and make significant strides in their respective tournaments.