No. 20 U of R Women’s Tennis Prevails over No. 38 Oberlin in Non-Conference Action

Photo credit: Ron Stephany
Photo credit: Ron Stephany

The 20th-ranked University of Redlands women's tennis team took to Verdieck Courts for the second time in as many days, squaring off against No. 38 Oberlin College (OH) on Wednesday in non-conference action.  After a 2-1 showing in doubles, the Bulldogs cruised to straight-set wins in every singles match to earn the 8-1 overall victory.

The freshman duo of Kate Dolan (St. Louis, MO) and Elizabeth Johnson (Portland, OR) got things started with an 8-6 showing at the No. 2 slot, before freshman Madison Ross (San Diego, CA) and senior Gabriela Vasquez (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) garnered an 8-4 triumph at No. 3. 

Leading 2-0, the Bulldogs provided an epic battle at the top position, as seniors Lauren Villanueva (El Segundo, CA) and Natalie Etchegaray (Placentia, CA) rallied back from a 4-7 deficit to force a tiebreaker.  During the extended portion of the set, they gave it their all but came up short in an 8-10 showing.

The Maroon and Gray responded in the singles matches by taking all six points in straight sets while recording four, 6-0 sets.  Etchegaray stepped off the court first after earning a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 1, before Villanueva cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 victory at the No. 3 slot. 

Up by a score of 4-1, Redlands looked to junior Emily Murnin (Salt Lake City, UT) to clinch the deciding point by prevailing in a 6-1, 6-0 performance at No. 2.

In addition, Johnson, Vasquez, and Dolan recorded solid wins at Nos. 4, 5, and 6, respectively.

The Bulldogs (9-5) host Whittier College on Friday, March 25, in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) match at 3 p.m. on Verdieck Courts.