Chapman takes down Redlands in battle of top-ranked teams

ORANGE, Calif. –  The No. 12-ranked Chapman University women’s tennis team defeated visiting University of Redlands – ranked No. 20 in Division III – with a 6-3 decision at the Chapman Tennis Courts on Friday afternoon. The Panthers and Bulldogs entered the match ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in the West Region, as well.

Junior Liz Lewis ran her singles winning streak to 20 matches, enjoying a perfect 20-0 mark this year, including an 11-0 record this spring. Lewis, ranked no. 10 in Division III, won in straight sets over No. 29 Paige Sumida, 6-2, 6-1. Lewis has won at least 20 matches now in three straight years and is just two wins shy of tying her own school record of 22 wins in a season.

It was junior Kelley Fox whose upset victory in the No. 2 singles match helped propel the Panthers to their fifth win in their past six matches. Fox rallied from one set down to defeat Redlands’ Rachael Miller – ranked No. 43 in the country – in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. It was Fox’s sixth straight win and she improved to 11-3 overall.

Lewis and Fox were not as fortunate in doubles play, losing to No. 5-ranked doubles team of Sumida and Whitney Waters, 9-8. The Chapman duo, ranked No. 15 in Division III, dropped to 9-4 overall.

The Panthers did however take two of the three doubles matches receiving an 8-5 victory from freshman Candace Scholler and sophomore Cassidy Sirois in the No. 2 position and a tiebreak 9-8 win by junior Sheehan Trippel and freshman Amy Logan in the No. 3 match. Scholler and Sirois are now 5-1 as doubles partners.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wten/2009-10/stats/UR-CU.htm