While constructing an effective lineup that included multiple first-year players, the University of Redlands women's tennis team gained success against high-quality foes during the 2017-18 season. With heart and tenacity, the Bulldogs earned an 11-10 overall mark, advanced to the first-ever Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Postseason Tournament, and finished the season ranked in the top 30 for the 23rd time in 24 years. In addition, Redlands reeled in multiple awards, including the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) West Region Player to Watch in sophomore Sarah Ikioka (Wailuku, HI).
The fall season included a successful trip to the ITA Regional Championships, where two doubles duos advanced to the final of the second-round consolation bracket. Ikioka and junior Elizabeth Johnson (Portland, OR) met up with first-years Karen Kobayashi (Sappora, Japan) and Lexi Lehman (Scottsdale, AZ) for an all-Bulldog final that was won by the veteran team, 8-5.
In early February, the Bulldogs jumped into regular-season action with a hard-fought win over an impressive No. 40 Caltech squad. Redlands eked out a close 5-4 victory on a third-set comeback by Johnson at No. 2 singles. After dropping the opening set, 5-7, she rallied for a 6-4 result in the second. However, she faced a three-game deficit to start the third and seemed to be running out time. But she battled back to win the deciding set, 6-4, in an outstanding display of grit and relentlessness.
Redlands took on a pair of Tiger teams on February 17 and outscored Colorado College and Occidental College by a combined shutout of 18-0. Junior Madison Ross (San Diego, CA) joined forces with different partners to secure a pair of doubles victories on the day.
After a tough loss to No. 19 Brandeis University (MA), the Bulldogs headed to Texas for a short jaunt against in-region foes, Trinity University (TX) and East Texas Baptist University. Despite the team's loss to Trinity, Johnson impressed at the No. 2 slot with her 6-4, 6-1 win. Against ETBU, Redlands returned to the win column with a 7-2 showing. Ikioka and Johnson provided a near flawless effort with an 8-1 triumph at No. 1 doubles before sophomore Jackie Lacy (Palm Desert, CA) cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 decision at the No. 3 slot in singles. Ross followed Lacy's lead with a 6-0, 6-2 performance at No. 6, while Lehman officially sealed the deal on the Bulldogs' win by downing her No. 4 counterpart, 6-2, 6-0.
Once the squad returned to Redlands, it battled through a demanding schedule through the month of March that included six nationally-ranked opponents in nine matches. Although the Bulldogs endured back-to-back heartbreakers to start the stretch, they overcame a 1-4 deficit to knock off the University of Texas-Dallas in a 5-4 shocker that spanned two days due to rain. At the start of the continuation, Johnson and Ikioka captured a critical 9-7 win in doubles to put the home team on the board. But UT-Dallas was unfazed and extended its lead with a pair of singles victories to sit comfortably in front at 4-1. However, Redlands battled tooth and nail to stay in the contest, as all four of the remaining singles matches went to a third set. Lacy initiated the Bulldogs' resurgence with an impressive 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 effort at No. 4. Lehman kept things rolling at No. 3 with a 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-0 victory, while Ikioka closed the door on her No. 1 opponent in a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 performance. With the overall score now tied, the Bulldogs looked to junior Kate Dolan (St. Louis, MO) to clinch this amazing comeback. After losing the first set, she forced a third and then battled to win the final three games for the memorable victory by scores of 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Redlands continued to roll with a 7-2 result against the Bantams of Trinity College (CT), with Lehman capturing the deciding point with her 6-2, 6-3 victory at No. 3 singles.
Following a short skid against two top-10 opponents, the Bulldogs closed out the busy month with a 2-1 finish. Redlands recorded a dominating 8-1 victory against No. 33 Lewis & Clark College (OR) before topping the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs by a score of 7-2. The team earned a sweep in doubles against both squads, with Johnson and Ikioka preserving the effort against Lewis & Clark, while Dolan and Lacy completed the positive result against UCSC.
During the month of April, Redlands finished out the SCIAC season with quality wins over No. 30 Chapman University, Cal Lutheran University, and Whittier College. After charging out to a 2-1 lead over the Panthers, the Bulldogs stayed the course and captured four of the six singles matches to earn the 6-3 triumph. Dolan and Lacy set the tone early with their 8-4 victory at No. 2 doubles, while Lehman initiated the team's success in singles with her 6-3, 6-1 showing at No. 3. Ikioka officially clinched the win with her 6-4, 6-2 victory at the top slot. Redlands recorded an impressive 9-0 win over CLU without dropping a set before celebrating its seniors with an 8-1 result over Whittier. In a fitting start to the final home match of their careers, seniors Tyler Garant (Anaheim, CA) and Julia Haussmann (Seattle, WA) put the Bulldogs on the board with their 8-2 victory at No. 3 doubles. Kobayashi and Lacy made quick work of their respective singles opponents while dropping a combined two games in the four triumphant sets.
With a 5-2 SCIAC mark, Redlands entered the first-ever SCIAC Postseason Tournament as the No. 3 seed and faced Pomona-Pitzer Colleges. Unfortunately, the result was the same as the regular season and sent the Bulldogs home on a loss to conclude the team's season.
Individually, Johnson and Ikioka qualified for the NCAA Individual Championships in doubles, with Ikioka also competing in singles. Although the results of the matches didn't go their way, they represented the Bulldogs with class and spirit.
In terms of accolades, Ikioka hauled in her second All-SCIAC First-Team honor and earned the ITA's West Region Player to Watch award. Finally, Ikioka, Johnson, Dolan, Kobayashi, and first-year Lily Mitchell (Riverside, CA) became ITA Scholar-Athletes for owning cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or higher. Collectively, the Bulldogs landed among the ITA All-Academic Teams for 2017-18.
With skill, dedication, and passion, the Bulldog women's tennis team orchestrated a solid campaign that saw all players grow under the leadership of Head Coach Geoff Roche. Despite the ups and downs, Redlands holds high expectations for continued success in the coming years.