REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Men's Tennis team inched closer to securing the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Tournament Friday afternoon as they cruised past No. 33 Chapman University 7-2 inside the Verdieck Tennis Center.
The Bulldogs have now won two straight and improve to 9-7, 4-2 SCIAC. They swept doubles to open the match giving them an early 3-0 lead and despite the Panthers grabbing a pair of wins in singles it wouldn't be enough to top the Bulldogs at home.
Stefan Hester (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA) and Jack Mattox (Mercer Island, CA) were the first ones off rolling 8-3 at No. 2 doubles and they were followed quickly by the No. 3 duo of first-years Tyler Pyle (Lake Oswego, OR) and Michael Dudley (Baton Rouge, LA) who also won by the score 8-3. The final point came at the top spot from Bryce Keim (Spartanburg, S.C.) and Nils Plutat (Sauerlach, Bavaria, Germany) who were tested early by Caleb Wilkins and Kevin DeHart, but the top team for the Maroon and Grey came out on top 8-5 putting UR up big.
This momentum carried over into singles with UR grabbing a quick three points, which clinched the win, while moving the score to 6-0. Keim made quick work of Marsh at No. 3 rolling 6-0, 6-3, Mattox grabbed the clinch at No. 4 beating DeHart in a three-setter 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 and first-year Josh Davydov (Bellevue, WA) would keep things rolling at No. 6 grabbing a break in each set to take down Caldwell 6-4, 6-3.'
Chapman was able to stop the momentum thanks to Wilkins who edged out Plutat at No. 1 6-3, 6-3. But Hester would follow with another point for the Bulldogs at No. 2 beating Hays 6-3, 7-6 (4). The last match on was Donovan Lilov (San Diego, CA) at No. 5 who went the distance. He dropped the opening set 6-3, but was able to level things with a 6-2 win in the second. The 10-point breaker though would go to Chapman as they would grab a late break at 10-8.
Redlands hosts Occidental College for their Senior Day, Saturday, April 15 beginning at 3:00pm at the Verdieck Tennis Center. With a win the Bulldogs will grab the No. 3 seed in the SCIAC Tournament and will travel to No. 2 Caltech in the Semi-Finals.