The 18th-ranked University of Redlands women's tennis team opened the 2016 spring season with an convincing 8-1 win over No. 35 Linfield College (OR) in Friday's in-region showdown on Verdieck Courts.  After sweeping the doubles, the Bulldogs fired off wins in five of the singles matches to cruise by the Wildcats.

The top tandem of seniors Lauren Villanueva (El Segundo, CA) and Natalie Etchegaray (Placentia, CA) set the tone early with an 8-3 triumph in doubles.  Freshman Elizabeth Johnson (Portland, OR) and junior Emily Murnin (Salt Lake City, UT) kept things rolling by defeating their No. 2 opponents, 8-5.  Finally, senior Gabriela Vasquez (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) and freshman Kate Dolan (St. Louis, MO) completed the Bulldog sweep with an 8-6 victory, which concluded with a break in the final game.

In singles, Villanueva won the first set, 6-1, before her No. 3 foe had to retire.

Leading by a score of 4-0, Redlands gained an impressive showing from Etchegaray, who rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over her No. 1 counterpart, securing the Bulldogs' season-opening win.

In addition, Vasquez and sophomore Claire Bohoskey (Yakima, WA) prevailed in straight sets against their No. 5 and 6 opponents, respectively, before Murnin captured the eighth point in the team scoring at the No. 2 slot.

Redlands (1-0) heads to Walla Walla, WA, for a three-match stint on Feb. 13-14, beginning with Saturday's meeting with the host school, No. 22 Whitman College (WA), at 8 a.m.