As the University of Redlands women's tennis team battled through a deliberately challenging schedule, the Bulldogs revealed the depth of their determination and skill en route to compiling a 14-8 overall record, a top-20 national ranking, and multiple individual accolades. Within Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) competition, the Maroon and Gray finished the year on a high note by winning the third-place match of the conference tournament to avenge an earlier loss and create momentum for the future.
After a productive outing at the 2014 Fall Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Regional Championships, the Bulldogs embarked upon a busy slate of competition during the spring season. Equipped with a national ranking of No. 19, Redlands fired off five-consecutive victories that included positive outcomes over four non-conference foes. The streak began on February 17 when the Bulldogs hosted Bates College from wintry Maine on Verdieck Courts. After senior Maddie Morton (Henderson, NV) and junior Gabriela Vasquez (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) initiated a doubles sweep with an 8-1 showing at No. 3, the Maroon and Gray captured the 7-2 win by prevailing in straight sets in four of the six singles matches. Vasquez also provided the deciding match in Redlands' first win of the season by rolling past her No. 4 opponent, 6-1, 6-0.
Three days later, the Bulldogs faced an important test in an exciting showdown against then-No. 25 Brandeis University (MA). With the score knotted at two apiece, Redlands prevailed in the next three matches to come off the court to secure the eventual 5-4 decision. The Maroon and Gray utilized the talented depth of its line-up with straight-set triumphs at Nos. 4, 5, and 6. Junior Lauren Villanueva (El Segundo, CA) started the surge with her 6-3, 6-1 effort at No. 5, while senior Julia Pollak (Holland, PA) dominated her No. 6 opponent by scores of 6-1, 6-0. Finally, Vasquez clinched the fifth and deciding victory by knocking off her No. 4 foe in a 6-2, 6-3 decision.
During this stretch of success, Redlands also recorded wins over Christopher Newport University (VA) and the University of Mary Washington (VA). Against CNU, the Bulldogs nearly blanked the Captains in an 8-1 tally and then pushed past the Eagles in a 6-3 showing on their home courts.
Beginning with a tough loss to SCIAC opponent Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on February 7, the momentum appeared to shift for the Maroon and Gray. During a taxing 10-day span, Redlands took on six formidable foes, including four teams ranked among the ITA's top 15, but garnered only one win. This bright spot came in the form of a 9-0 dismantling of Hardin-Simmons University (TX). After Villanueva and Pollak completed the doubles sweep with their 8-6 win at No. 2, the dynamic duo continued to cruise in singles action with a pair of 6-1, 6-1 victories to secure the overall team win.
However, the Bulldogs remained relentless throughout March's demanding and busy schedule by putting together a four-match win streak to close out the month. Redlands got back on track when it defeated the visiting Missionaries of Whitman College (WA) in an important, in-region showdown. Senior Ceara Sumida (Hilo, HI) and junior Natalie Etchegaray (Placentia, CA) put the Bulldogs on the board with their 8-4 victory at the No. 1 slot in doubles, before sophomore Emily Murnin (Salt Lake City, UT) eventually notched the deciding point with her 6-4, 6-1 win at the No. 4 singles position.
Redlands then squared off against the then-tied-for-17th-ranked Jumbos of Tufts University (MA) to conclude its 13-match home stand with an exciting 5-4 decision. After sweeping the doubles for the fourth time this season, the Bulldogs looked to Nos. 1 and 6 singles to secure the upset-win over the Jumbos. Pollak came up with the goods at No. 6 to make it 4-2 for Redlands, before Etchegaray rallied to prevail at No. 1 by scores of 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to finalize the upset performance.
While riding the momentum of these important wins, the Bulldogs took to the road for the first time all season in order to compete against conference foes Occidental College and Chapman University. In near-perfect execution, the Maroon and Gray out-scored these opponents by a 17-1 margin to secure quality triumphs.
Unfortunately, the month of April was not as favorable, as Redlands dropped a pair of SCIAC matches, including a heartbreaking loss to the University of La Verne on Senior Day, to start the final month of the regular season.
Nonetheless, the Bulldogs quickly rebounded with decisive outings against Cal Lutheran University and Whittier College. Between these two matches, Redlands rattled off 12 straight-set singles victories.
Now seeded fourth for the SCIAC Championship Tournament, the Maroon and Gray squared off against Chapman in the opening round of the two-day event. Sumida and Etchegaray snagged a hard-fought 9-7 win at No. 1 doubles to provide a critical advantage going into the singles matches. Late in the contest, Murnin turned a 4-2 lead into an official triumph for Redlands, as she rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 4.
This positive outcome moved the Maroon and Gray onto a semifinal match against the top-seeded Athenas of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. Although the Bulldogs came up short in this endeavor, they dug deep to avenge their earlier-season loss to La Verne by rallying for a 5-4 victory in the third-place match. With Villanueva and Pollak garnering the only doubles win, Redlands was forced to come from behind against the Leopards. The Maroon and Gray stepped up in singles to harness its first lead of the match, before La Verne answered to knot the score at three apiece. However, Vasquez and Murnin came through in the clutch, as they registered the final two deciding points for the redeeming victory.
Despite their 14-8 overall record and top-20 national ranking, Redlands missed out on selection to the NCAA Championships. However, Etchegaray received the invitation to compete in the NCAA Singles Championships for the first time in her career. Although she suffered a first-round exit from the tournament, she became an ITA All-American by ranking among the top-20 singles players in all of NCAA Division III, marking another first-time accomplishment for her. Finally, Etchegaray was named the ITA West Regional Player to Watch, making this the second-consecutive time that this award went to a member of the Redlands women's tennis team.
Furthermore, Etchegaray landed on the All-SCIAC First Team for her contributions as the Bulldogs' top singles player. She also joined forces with Sumida as the Maroon and Gray's No. 1 doubles team throughout the year. Sumida collected Second-Team recognition after putting together a solid performance at No. 2 singles.
The Bulldogs also excelled academically as revealed by multiple awards. Sumida, Morton, Etchegaray, Murnin, and junior Alyssa Gilbert (Mukilteo, WA) all collected SCIAC All-Academic honors. In addition, this group joined freshman Claire Bohoskey (Yakima, WA) as recipients of the ITA Scholar-Athlete award. Finally, Redlands became one of 451 All-Academic Teams to be honored for scholarly success.
Although the departure of the seniors requires attention, the Bulldogs hold high hopes for the returning competitors as they work to build upon the program's high-quality foundation of excellence. With Head Coach Geoff Roche leading the way, Redlands women's tennis strives to return to the national scene as an exemplary team among a very talented conference.