Women end three match skid; Cruise past St. Benedict's 7-2
Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's tennis team ended their three game skid with a big win against St. Benedicts Saturday morning 7-2.
Whittier now improves to 1-3, 0-1 SCIAC, while St. Benedicts drops to 2-1.
The Poets coming into today's matchup was prepped after playing three straight nationally ranked programs in Chapman (No. 18), Claremont-M-S (No. 8), and Brandeis University (No. 30).
In doubles Whittier opened up with victories at No. 1 and No. 3 to take a 2-1 lead into singles. At No. 1 the doubles team of Liliana Serylo and Chloe Dredge behind pinpoint returns and passing shots pulled out a solid 8-3 victory, while at No. 3 freshman Benay Weintraub and senior Kady Oliker paired up together to cruise to the 8-1 victory behind crisp volleys and strong net play.
After getting a victory over nationally ranked Brandeis University this past week the No. 2 doubles team of Adrienne Hamada and Rachel Sugiyama were unable to pull out the win as St. Benedicts pulled out the 8-6 victory at No. 2.
Dredge who finished the 2011 season with the best record on the Poets squad got back into top form despite a slow start to the season earning a strong 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles.
Oliker who is one of five seniors on the Poet squad continues to establish herself as the "rock" on the team as continues to play hard and consistent in both singles and doubles as she again gained a win at No. 4 6-4, 6-3.
But the match of the day belonged to freshman Weintraub who comes to the Poet squad from Memphis, TN. After winning big at No. 3 doubles she continued her aggressive play and made two comebacks to pull out the 7-6(6), 6-2 victory achieving her first collegiate win in singles.
She fell behind early 3-0 but battled back to force a first set tiebreaker. In the tiebreak she again fell behind 6-3 and fought off three set points coming from behind to win five straight points to win the first set 7-6. Then in the second set she was too much to handle as her heavy topspin and kick serve just overpowered her opponent as she cruised to the 6-2 second set win.
The Purple & Gold return to action as they host Northwestern (IA) on Wednesday, March 7 beginning at 4pm with the live broadcast set to begin ten minutes prior to the match starting.
Doubles:
1. L. Serylo/C. Dredge (WC) def. A. Brandell/M. Scipal (CSB) 8-3
2. S. Rossman/A. Vargas (CSB) def. A. Hamada/R. Sugiyama (WC) 8-6
3. K. Oliker/B. Weintraub (WC) def. J. Huffman/M. Rayman (CSB) 8-1
Singles:
1. Liliana Serylo (WC) def. Aly Brandell (CSB) 6-3, 6-1
2. Chloe Dredge (WC) def. Sarah Rossman (CSB) 6-0, 6-1
3. Adrienne Hamada (WC) def. Jamie Hoffman (CSB) 6-4, 6-1
4. Kady Oliker (WC) def. Megan Seipel (CSB) 6-4, 6-3
5. Benay Weintraub (WC) def. Alicia Vargas (CSB) 7-6(6), 6-2
6. Elissa Husby (CSB) def. Rachel Sugiyama (WC) 6-3, 6-2
