ORANGE, Calif. – Aliya Allyn won in a tiebreaker to clinch a 5-4 victory for the Chapman University women's tennis team over No. 16 Caltech. The Panthers won for the seventh time in the last eight matches and improved to 10-4 overall and 4-1 in the SCIAC.

Allyn's clinching victory came after Caltech erased an early Chapman lead. The Panthers swept through the doubles matches to build a 3-0 lead. However, Caltech won four singles matches to tie the match at 4-4.

Olivia Desso claimed a 6-2, 7-5 victory at No. 4 to get the Panthers within a point of clinching the match. Caltech notched its first two points with straight set victories at the No. 5 and No. 6 courts. Both Alexis Golin and Lucy Erickson took their matches into a third set but the Beavers ultimately claimed those points to tie the match at 4-4.

With all eyes on the No. 1 court, Allyn took the first set and found herself in a tiebreaker in the second set. Allyn pulled out a 7-5 win in the tiebreaker to win 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

Allyn and Golin won 8-3 in the top doubles match. Erickson partnered with Racquel Fhima to win 8-6 at No. 2 doubles while Desso and Waite pulled out an 8-4 victory at No. 3.

The Panthers face a crucial stretch next week in an effort to clinch a spot in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament. Chapman travels to Redlands on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. match and finishes out the SCIAC schedule at home against CMS on Saturday. A win in either match would clinch a spot in the SCIAC Tournament.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director