Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's tennis team was one win away from upsetting their first ranked opponent in the program's history after falling 5-4 to the Judges of Brandeis University Tuesday afternoon at the Richard Ettinger Tennis Courts.
Brandeis came into the match ranked No. 24 in the National Polls and got a scare in their opening Spring Break match as they came from behind to win four of six singles matches to clinch the victory.
After falling behind at both No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, the Poets stormed back to grab late breaks en route to winning 8-5 and 8-4. At No. 2, the team of Gabi Etchegaray and Liliana Serylo found themselves holding onto an early break but was unable to hold on as Marissa Lazar and Allyson Bernstein came back to grab the first point for the Judges 8-4.
Trailing 2-1 heading into singles, Brandeis got quick victories at No. 4 and No. 5 singles to go in front 3-2, but a big straight sets victory from Etchegaray at No. 3 6-3, 6-3 over Simone Vandroff brought the Purple & Gold even. Senior Adrienne Hamada found herself in a grinding match with Bernstein at No. 2 and despite holding an early break she couldn't find an answer for the steady senior as she fell 6-3, 6-1 allowing Brandeis to go in front 4-3.
After falling quickly 6-2 in the first set, freshman Alexis Agustin came back to win 6-4 in the second before routing Alexa Katz 6-2 in the third to pull Whittier even once again.
Sophomore Meagan Zamilpa was the last match on playing No. 17 Carley Cooke, a three time All-American with the match on the line. Zamilpa pulled out a tough 7-5 first set before dropping a 7-5 second set decision. In the third, Cooke broke Zamilpa in the first game but was broken right back but still managed to grab a late break, which was good enough to secure the 6-3 decisive set and the match for the Judges.
Whittier travels to San Diego this Friday, February 21 as they take on the Tritons from UC San Diego beginning at 2:00pm.
Singles competition
1. #17 Carley Cooke (BR) def. Maegan Zamilpa (WC) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
2. Allyson Bernstein (BR) def. Adrienne Hamada (WC) 6-3, 6-1
3. Gabi Etchegaray (WC) def. Simone Vandroff (BR) 6-3, 6-3
4. Roberta Bergstein (BR) def. Liliana Serylo (WC) 6-1, 6-0
5. Emily Eska (BR) def. Benay Weintraub (WC) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
6. Alexis Agustin (WC) def. Alexa Katz (BR) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
Doubles competition
1. Maegan Zamilpa/Adrienne Hamada (WC) def. Carley Cooke/Simone Vandroff (BR) 8-5
2. Marissa Lazar/Allyson Bernstein (BR) def. Gabi Etchegaray/Liliana Serylo (WC) 8-4
3. Alexis Agustin/Benay Weintraub (WC) def. Roberta Bergstein/Sarita Biswas (BR) 8-4
