Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Tennis team welcomed back junior Kindall Yeung (Fullerton, Calif.) following her knee injury in a big way as they picked up their first win on the season edging Chapman University 5-4 at the Richard Ettinger Tennis Courts.

The Purple & Gold proved tough in doubles as they took two of three to go in front, which proved crucial.  They trailed 1-0 after an 8-1 loss at No. 2 doubles from Madeline Schmidt-Perez (San Marino, Calif.) and Venezia Moyano (Riverside, Calif.).

But at No. 3 Karissa Lee (Whittier, Calif.) and Sarah Medina (Pico Rivera, Calif.) would come up big pulling off a lopsided 8-1 win over Salome and Simmons to put WC on the board.  The go ahead point came from Amanda Rodriguez (Glendora, Calif.) and Yeung at the top spot who teamed up to win 8-2 over Saunders and Orikasa.

Chapman tied things up as Rodriguez would fall at No. 1 6-0, 6-1 but the Poets would go back out in front as Medina would take care of Salome at No. 6 6-2, 6-2.

Lee gave the Purple & Gold the slight edge as she moved the score to 4-2 with a 6-1, 6-4 decision at No. 5 but the match wouldn't be clinched until later as the final three match-ups would go to three sets.

The clinching win came at No. 2 as Yeung in her comeback came from a set down to pull off the 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Fouts. 

Schmidt-Perez had a battle at No. 3 as the first two sets went to tie-breakers but in the end she couldn't keep the momentum going as she would fall 10-5 in the third-set breaker to Orikasa.

The No. 4 match-up went the way of the Panthers as well as Moyano was unable to hold a set lead over Hampton falling 6-4, 5-7, 7-10.        

Whittier travels today, Saturday, April 8 as they take on Claremont-M-S beginning at 10:00am.