REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Tennis team continues to roll as they made quick work of No. 32 Colby College 8-1 Wednesday afternoon at the Verdieck Tennis Courts.
The Maroon and Grey have now taken on four nationally ranked opponents this season going 2-2 in those matches. They improve to 6-3, 1-0 SCIAC and have now won four of their last five.
Redlands got off to a strong start sweeping doubles. Gabby Rockwood (Park City, UT) and Kendall Bolock (Yucaipa, CA) grabbed the first point of the match 8-3 at the top spot and first years Kiana Brady (Hermosa Beach, CA) and Christine O'Brien (Leawood, KS) grabbed the second winning 8-3 at the No. 3. The final match on was Liv Rockwood (Park City, UT) and Mia Fitzgerald (Kilauea, HI) who needed a breaker to pick up the clean sweep for UR. They would come out on top 8-7 (3).
The momentum carried over into singles with Redlands taking five of six matches. Bolock cruised to the 6-1, 6-1 decision at No. 3 and Brady would clinch the match at No. 2 rolling 6-1, 6-2. G. Rockwood kept the wins coming at No. 5 taking out her opponent in straight sets 6-4, 6-0 and Fitzgerald would grab the seventh point on the day cruising 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4.
The final two matches on went the distance. L. Rockwood finished first at the top spot. After splitting sets 6-4, 3-6 was able to pull out the third set breaker 10-6 moving the score to 8-0. Abby Nash (Bellevue, WA) was the last one on at No. 6. After falling 6-0 in the first set was able to battle back in the second to force a breaker winning 7-6 (1), but couldn't carry that momentum into the third set breaker dropping 10-5 giving Colby their lone point on the day.
Redlands has their second match this week on Saturday, March 26 when they host Middlebury beginning at 10:00am.
Coach's Thoughts
"The women's team came out firing on all cylinders and never let Colby get settled into the match. After sweeping doubles, which was competitive we carried the momentum into singles and maintained our intensity to pick up the win. I am really proud of how the women have stepped up against tough competition all season."
Coach's Shoutout
"Gabby Rockwood has been working extremely hard this season and she had a nice pair of wins at No. 1 doubles and No. 5 singles. Her energy and effort out on the courts was unmatched today and I couldn't be more happy for her."
