Doubles sweep gives Chapman its first win of the season

ORANGE, Calif. –  It took a return home to get the nationally-ranked Chapman University women's tennis team back into the win column. The No. 13-ranked Panthers defeated No. 18 University of Mary Washington (Va.) 5-4 at the Chapman Tennis Courts on Tuesday. It was the Panthers' first victory of the year after opening their season, on the road against Cal State Northridge, Azusa Pacific, and Cal State Fullerton – all non-Division III teams.

The Panthers won all three doubles matches which proved to be the difference in the match. Senior All-Americans Liz Lewis and Kelley Fox won the No. 1 doubles match 8-2 and the tandem of junior Melissa Boyer and sophomore Genna Ford the No. 3 match by the same score. Sophomore Candace Scholler and freshman Cassady Sirois completed the sweep, winning 8-4.

Chapman took two of the six singles matches, getting just enough to edge the Eagles. Lewis improved to 2-1 this season (5-1 overall) with a straight sets win over UMW senior Courtney Goimarac, 6-1, 6-0. Ford's victory from the No. 5 position was the clincher 6-3, 6-3 over junior Casey Malcolm. Both Fox and Boyer fell in closely-contested matches that went to three sets. The win improved Ford's overall record to 5-2, including 3-1 this spring.

The Panthers will square off against three more nationally-ranked programs this weekend as the travel to St. Peter, Minn. for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Indoor tournament hosted by Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.). The three-day bracketed event begins on Friday.

by Bryan Ziebelman
Sports Information Intern

Match Results: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wten/2010-11/files/UMW-CU.pdf