It was an exciting day for the Bulldogs at the Champions Club in Chattanooga, TN, as sophomore Chase Lipscomb (Irvine, CA) became an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-American with his first-round win at the NCAA Division III Individual Tennis Championships.

After eking out a triumph in the first-set tiebreak, Lipscomb struggled in the second set and ultimately fell by a score of 2-6 to Mohanad Al-Houni of Gustavus Adolphus College (MN). 

In an incredible third-set battle, the talented Bulldog stayed in the moment and overcame some big serves by his opponent to finally break him for the 5-4 lead. 

With Lipscomb serving for the match, Al-Houni answered the call to break right back, and, before long, the match was headed to another tiebreak.  Lipscomb cruised out to a 3-0 lead but again, his foe refused to go away and eventually forced a 4-all tie. 

With victory within reach, Lipscomb developed a sweet point to put away a winner for the 5-4 advantage in the final set.  Two quality serves later, he had the win on his racket for All-America honors, as defined by the ITA.

He went on to face Grant Urken of Bowdoin College (ME) in the second round but came up short in a 2-6, 3-6 decision.

In doubles, Al-Houni had his revenge against Redlands when he teamed up with Patrick Whaling to defeat senior Jake Ly (Torrance, CA) and junior Joey Dulle (St. Louis, MO), 6-3, 6-2, in the first round of doubles.

With Lipscomb's success, the Bulldogs boast seven consecutive years with at least one All-American. View the list here.