CLAREMONT – The Chapman University women's tennis team captured fifth place at the SCIAC Postseason Tournament hosted by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and fifth place overall in the conference standings at the Pauley Tennis Complex on Friday and Saturday. The Panthers defeated Whittier College 7-2 in the fifth-place match and will find out on Monday if their 13-8 overall record and No. 30 national ranking is enough to earn an at-large berth into the NCAA Division III playoffs.
First Round: Redlands 5, Chapman 1
After the Bulldogs took two of three from the Panthers in doubles, Redlands captured wins on the first and fifth courts and then clinched the victory with a win on the No. 2 court. Chapman's doubles team of junior Sophia Duong and senior Kelley Klebenow earned the team's only win with a 9-7 decision on the No. 3 court. The Panthers' top two singles players No. 11-regionally-ranked sophomore Andrea Hammer and No. 18-ranked junior Rachel Fox each lost in straight sets to Redlands' regionally-ranked counterparts.
Boxscore: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/wten/2013-14/files/cu-urw.htm
Second Round: Chapman 8, Cal Lutheran 1
The Panthers swept through singles and took two of three in doubles to earn a berth in the fifth-place match on Saturday. Hammer (6-1, 6-4) won in straight sets as well as Fox (6-3, 6-1). Duong improved to 17-2 in dual matches this season with a two-set win on the No. 3 court. In doubles play, Hammer and Fox – ranked No. 4 in the West Region – had no trouble with an 8-2 win to improve to 18-5 this season overall.
Boxscore: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/wten/2013-14/files/clu-cu.htm
Fifth-Place Match: Chapman 7, Whittier 2
Chapman (13-8 overall, 6-5 SCIAC) took fifth-place thanks to five singles wins – all in straight sets – and again taking two of three in doubles. Duong won her 20th match of the year from No. 3 singles, becoming just the second Panther to win 20 in a single season. She improved to 9-1 in conference play and 13-1 on the No. 3 court. She and Klebenow also won their third straight doubles match with an 8-3 victory on the No. 3 court to improve to 16-3 overall. Klebenow was terrific from the No. 6 singles position, as well, winning 6-2, 6-0 to improve to 14-3 this spring.
Hammer and Fox ran their doubles record to 19-5 this season, the second most wins in school history for a duo. They are hopeful of a bid into the NCAA national championships, to be announced on Wednesday. Hammer also earned a minor upset win, defeating No. 8-ranked Maegan Zamilpa from Whittier 6-4, 6-3 to improve to 12-13 this season, including a 5-7 mark against regionally-ranked opponents.
Boxscore: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/wten/2013-14/files/wc-cu2.htm
by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director
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