While continuing tradition by competing against a formidable slate of opponents, the 2016 University of Redlands women's tennis team added to the program's illustrious history with a solid 16-8 overall record, a 7-3 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) mark, and a final national ranking of 19th in all of NCAA Division III. As the team's top player, senior standout Natalie Etchegaray (Placentia, CA) effectively set the tone for the team's success en route to earning her second All-America nod from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
After an early-season triumph over Linfield College (OR), the Bulldogs traveled north to battle it out with additional Northwest Conference foes at the Whitman College Winter Classic in Walla Walla, WA. Redlands gained split results on the opening day by nabbing a 6-3 victory over the host school. The Maroon and Gray jumped out to a 3-0 lead with outstanding results in doubles, with junior Emily Murnin (Salt Lake City, UT) and freshman Elizabeth Johnson (Portland, OR) securing the sweep with an 8-6 decision at the No. 2 slot. The duo was just as effective in singles, as Johnson cruised by her No. 4 opponent in a 6-0, 6-1 dismantling, before Murnin came out on top at No. 2 by scores of 6-0, 6-4.
The third match of the tournament came against longtime rival Trinity University (TX) and finished in the Bulldogs' favor with a time-shortened score of 5-2. Etchegaray and senior Lauren Villanueva (El Segundo, CA) stepped up with an 8-3 victory at the top slot in doubles for Redlands' early 2-0 lead. Furthermore, Etchegaray continued to cruise in singles by prevailing over her No. 1 foe in a 6-2, 6-2 showing, while Villanueva went on to clinch the match at No. 2 with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 effort.
The Bulldogs continued to do work in the early part of the season by capturing three-straight 5-4 wins, including a quality victory over then-No. 19 Case Western Reserve University (OH). After falling behind in doubles, the Maroon and Gray fought off the Spartans by winning four of the six singles matches for the impressive comeback. While facing a 1-3 deficit, the Bulldogs looked to Johnson and Etchegaray to even the count with strong performances in singles. However, CWRU regained the lead and forced Redlands into a must-win scenario in the final two matches. Murnin and freshman Kate Dolan (St. Louis, MO) answered the call by going the distance in three sets for the team's hard-fought victory.
Over the next 10 days, Redlands battled through a difficult span of the schedule with its only win coming against the University of Texas at Tyler in an important in-region match. Despite trailing 1-2 after the doubles, the Maroon and Gray mustered an impressive rally in the singles to capture a 6-3 win over the Patriots. After Villanueva and Etchegaray put Redlands on the board with an 8-6 win at the top spot, the team stepped up in singles to take the first five matches off the court. Senior Gabriela Vasquez (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) officially put this one in the books for the Bulldogs with her 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 performance at No. 5.
Redlands carried this momentum into the opening SCIAC match against the Occidental College Tigers, which resulted in a dominating 9-0 victory. While making their doubles debut together, sophomore Claire Bohoskey (Yakima, WA) and freshman Madison Ross (San Diego, CA) initiated the scoring with an 8-2 performance at No. 3. Ross also provided a point in singles by taking care of business in an efficient 6-1, 6-0 showing at the No. 6 slot.
The Bulldogs closed out the busy month of March with a 2-1 effort that included an 8-1 win over Oberlin College (OH) and 9-0 trouncing of Whittier College.
The entire month of April was dedicated to SCIAC action that resulted in the Bulldogs' No. 3 seed in the SCIAC Championship Tournament. While winning four of these six matches, the Maroon and Gray outscored its opponents by an impressive 114-3 margin. On April 9, Redlands celebrated Senior Day by honoring Etchegaray, Villanueva, Vasquez, and Alyssa Gilbert (Mukilteo, WA. Redlands rolled to a 9-0 victory over Chapman University, which was highlighted by Gilbert's clinching win at No. 6 in her first and final match as Bulldog.
Seeded third in the tournament, the Maroon and Gray quickly advanced to the semifinal with a 5-0 blanking of Chapman in the opening round. Unfortunately, the team's rematch with then-No. 4 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges yielded the same result as earlier in the season while also sending the Bulldogs into the third-place match. Against Cal Lutheran University, Redlands battled to earn a 6-3 showing with grit and persistence. On the heels of a 2-1 doubles lead, the Bulldogs fired off three-consecutive wins in singles to secure the overall victory. After breaking into the line-up in the middle of April, junior Stephanie Ramos (Sacramento, CA) blanked her No. 6 opponent to set the tone early. Murnin cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win at the No. 2 slot, before Vasquez scored the deciding point with her comeback performance at No. 5.
Upon conclusion of the SCIAC season, Etchegaray collected her fourth-consecutive All-SCIAC First-Team honor, while Murnin and Villanueva represented the Bulldogs on the Second Team.
Etchegaray's flawless conference season and impressive overall run were later recognized by the ITA when she was named the West Region Senior Player of the Year. She advanced to the NCAA Individual Championships for singles and joined forces with Villanueva for doubles action on the national stage. Unfortunately, both outings came up short with first-round losses.
However, Etchegaray's quality performance in her final campaign resulted in her second All-America nod from the ITA. She finished the year ranked among the top-20 singles players in the country, which qualifies an individual for this honor. She and Villanueva completed their impressive doubles stint ranked No. 17 in the nation.
The Bulldogs also impressed in the classroom, as seven student-athletes earned SCIAC All-Academic Team and ITA Scholar-Athlete recognition. Overall, the squad was also honored as an ITA All-Academic Team for the fourth-consecutive year.
As highlighted by individual achievements, national rankings, and an abundance of wins, the women's tennis team provided plenty to celebrate. There is no denying that the graduating class leaves a significant void, but with Head Coach Geoff Roche leading the way, Redlands looks to a bright future of competing for additional success in the program's storied tradition that is Bulldog tennis.