Lewis and Fox eliminated from quarterfinals at Ojai Tourney

OJAI, Calif. – Chapman University seniors Liz Lewis and Kelley Fox reached the quarterfinals in the independent college doubles bracket at the 111th Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament on Thursday and Friday. It was the final career appearance for the Panther duo in Ojai.

Fox, in singles, also earned a win at the tournament, which usually signals the end of the regular season. However, the Panthers have one final regular match against West Region rival Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday.

Lewis and Fox were eliminated by No. 2 seed Marie Boura and Erika Januskova from Fresno Pacific University 7-5, 6-2. The FPU pair eventually reached the finals and was tournament runner up.

The Panthers were seeded No. 8 in the 38-team field, having advanced to the quarterfinals with a win over Samantha Chao and Arthi Padmanabhan from Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Friday afternoon. The win was Lewis and Fox's 61st as a doubles pair, adding to their Chapman record.

Junior Melissa Boyer and sophomore Genna Ford earned a tough doubles draw and were eliminated in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 in the Round of 32 by No. 3 seeds Yumiko Justin and Christina Valladares, also from Fresno Pacific.

Chapman's lone highlight in singles competition was Fox's first round win over Rachael Miller from the University of Redlands in three sets, 6-7, 6-0, 6-3. It was the third time Fox and Miller have faced each other in the past 12 months with Fox now winning twice – both in three sets. The other match was halted in the middle of the third set at last year's West Region playoffs.

Division III's No. 14 Chapman and No. 13 Claremont will square off on Friday in the season finale for both teams. The winner will likely be the No. 2 seed behind Pomona-Pitzer in the West Region playoffs which begin May 13.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Ojai Tournament Results: http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=99868