No. 14 Washington avoids upset with 5-4 win over Chapman

ORANGE, Calif. – The No. 14-ranked Washington University (Mo.) women's tennis team won four of the top five singles matches and avoided an upset by defeating No. 27-ranked Chapman University 5-4 at the Chapman Tennis Courts on Saturday afternoon. It is just the second loss of the season for the Panthers, both decided by one match. 

Chapman (4-2) began the day winning two out of three doubles matches including a close victory from its No. 3 doubles team, freshman Sophia Duong and senior Cassady Sirois. Duong and Sirois prevailed 8-6, improving their doubles record to 4-0 overall. The Panthers' No. 1 doubles team of junior Danielle Kaiden and sophomore Kelley Klebenow also won 8-2.

However, the Bears turned the tables in singles play claiming four of the six matches, including straight sets wins on each of the top two courts.

Chapman senior Melissa Boyer won in the No. 3 spot after Washington sophomore Evelyn Qin retired after one set. Boyer improved to 6-1 this season, matching junior Genna Ford for the most singles wins on the team. The second Panthers win came from the No. 6 spot with junior Amy Logan winning 6-4, 6-2 in her spring singles debut.

Despite winning the first set, Sirois suffered a tough loss in three sets 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 after playing in the No. 5 position for the first time this season. The senior fell to 4-2 overall.

The Panthers will face off against another ranked opponent No. 13 Carnegie Mellon (Ohio) at 9 a.m. on Sunday at the Chapman Tennis Courts. Chapman defeated the Scotty Dogs 5-4 the last time they played in 2010.

by Aileen Yoon & Doug Aiken
Sports Information Intern & Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/wten/2011-12/files/wash-cu

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