The No. 37 University of Redlands women's tennis team gained gutsy performances throughout the lineup and ultimately captured a 6-3 win over the visiting Golden Gusties of No. 35 Gustavus Adolphus College (MN) on Tuesday afternoon on Verdieck Courts. After earning a 2-1 advantage in doubles, the Bulldogs relied on their depth in singles to secure wins at Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6.
The No. 3 doubles duo of senior Kate Dolan (St. Louis, MO) and sophomore Lexi Lehman (Scottsdale, AZ) put Redlands on the board with an 8-1 thrashing.
However, Gustavus Adolphus answered with a win at the top slot to even the early score. The Bulldogs looked to the No. 2 tandem of sophomore Karen Kobayashi (Sappora, Japan) and junior Jackie Lacy (Palm Desert, CA) to secure an important 8-6 result for the home team's slight 2-1 lead.
In singles, Redlands maintained the momentum for a 4-1 lead, as Dolan knocked off her No. 6 counterpart, 6-1, 6-3, and first-year Halle Martinucci (Burlingame, CA) posted a 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 result at No. 5.
Nonetheless, the Golden Gusties refused to go away and cut the deficit with a win at No. 2. But the rally was short-lived, as Kobayashi sealed the deal for the Maroon and Gray with her 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory at No. 3. In addition, Lehman pulled out a hard-fought 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (3) win at No. 4.
Redlands (5-9, 1-1 SCIAC) faces the bulk of its Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) slate, beginning on Saturday, April 6, with a road trip to Thousand Oaks for a 1 p.m. match against Cal Lutheran University.
