REDLANDS, Calif. – First year Kiana Brady (Hermosa Beach, CA) picked up her biggest win of her young career Friday afternoon winning at No. 2 singles for the University of Redlands Women's Tennis team to clinch the match 5-4 over No. 22 Caltech.
The Bulldogs got to work quickly taking two of three doubles at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions. First-years Christine O'Brien (Leawood, KS) and Brady again rolled at No. 3 doubles winning 8-2 and Liv Rockwood (Park City, UT) and Mia Fitzgerald (Kilauea, HI) continues their dominance at No. 2 winning 8-3 putting UR on top 2-0. The Maroon and Grey had an opportunity to sweep with the top team of Gabby Rockwood (Park City, UT) and Kendall Bolock (Yucaipa, CA) finding themselves deadlocked at 6-6, but a couple of questionable line calls proved costly in the end as they fell 8-6 allowing Caltech to get onto the scoreboard.
In singles Redlands kept the momentum taking half of the matches, but it was difficult as they would come at 1-2-3. The Beavers earned their second point quickly coming at No. 4 as Fitzgerald fell 6-0, 6-1. Bolock got that point right back however taking her match 6-1, 6-1 at No. 3 putting the Bulldogs back on top. CIT though wouldn't go away quietly winning points at No. 5 (G. Rockwood; 6-1, 6-3) and No. 6 (Abby Nash (Bellevue, WA); 6-2, 6-2) to swing the momentum, while taking a lead at 4-3.
It then came down to L. Rockwood and Brady at the top two spots. L. Rockwood would tie the match up at No. 1 earning a break in each set to win 6-3, 6-3 in her biggest win of the season and Brady would follow battling to a 6-4, 6-3 clinch that brought the Bulldog Nation storming onto the court.
Redlands has a short turnaround as they travel tomorrow, Saturday, April 9 to take on Occidental College beginning at 10:00am.
Coach's Thought's
"This was a battle all afternoon with the players having to test their will power due to the extreme heat conditions. It was a grueling match but I am so proud for how hard the girls worked coming away with another win against a ranked opponent."
Coach's Shoutout
"Kiana continues to impress match after match, especially as a first year having to play up in the lineup. But she has risen to the occasion and today she picked up a solid win against a very tough opponent. She had to face the heat and a three-hour match, but was able to come away with the clinch. So proud of her."