The No. 18 University of Redlands women's tennis competed in two matches at the Whitman College Winter Classic on Saturday in Walla Walla, WA, facing off against the host school and Lewis & Clark College (OR). In the morning match, the Bulldogs prevailed over the No. 22 Missionaries of Whitman by a score of 6-3, but then fell short against the underrated No. 29 Lewis & Clark Pioneers by the same score.
Against Whitman, the Bulldogs came out firing and captured all three doubles points with solid performances at each slot. Senior Gabriela Vasquez (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) and freshman Kate Dolan (St. Louis, MO) set the tone with their 8-5 victory at No. 3, before seniors Natalie Etchegaray (Placentia, CA) Lauren Villanueva (El Segundo, CA) followed suit with another win by the same score at the top spot. Junior Emily Murnin (Salt Lake City, UT) and freshman Elizabeth Johnson (Portland, OR) completed the doubles sweep with an 8-6 decision against their No. 2 foes.
In singles, Johnson cruised by her No. 4 opponent, by scores of 6-0, 6-1, to make it 4-0 for the Maroon and Gray. Murnin officially secured the Bulldogs' victory with her solid 6-0, 6-4 showing at the No. 2 slot.
Etchegaray provided Redlands' sixth point of the match in an extended battle, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3.
The Bulldogs returned to action in the early evening, facing off against a talented Lewis & Clark squad. Etchegaray and Villanueva rattled off an impressive 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles to initiate the scoring. However, the Pioneers answered back by taking the next two matches for a slight 2-1 advantage entering the singles competition.
Lewis & Clark nabbed the first singles point at No. 1, before Redlands' Murnin stepped up with a 7-6 (2), 6-3 win at the No. 2 position.
Trailing by a score of 2-3, the Bulldogs looked to Johnson to even the tally with her three-set victory at No. 4 by scores of 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-4.
Unfortunately for the Maroon and Gray, Lewis & Clark prevailed in all three remaining matches, resulting in the 3-6 loss for Redlands.
The Bulldogs (2-1) take on No. 33 Trinity University (TX) in Sunday's early-morning match to conclude the WC Winter Classic.