Claremont, Calif. - The CMS Women's Tennis team took a 2-1 lead after doubles by winning the final match in a tiebreaker and went on to a 7-2 win over Pomona-Pitzer in the SCIAC finals at Pauley Tennis Complex.
With the win, CMS, which is ranked No. 2 in the nation, improves to 28-0 overall on the year and 11-0 in conference matches. Pomona-Pitzer, ranked No. 10 nationally, sees its record fall to 14-6 overall and 9-2 in conference play. Both teams are expected to receive NCAA bids and be back in action at CMS this coming weekend for the NCAA West Regionals.
The loss overshadowed a spectacular effort from junior Arthi Padmanabhan (Saratoga, Calif. - pictured) who teamed with freshman Lea Lynn Yen (Fullerton, Calif.) for an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles and then won a 6-0, 6-0 decision at No. 5 singles. She won her singles match against Chloe Dobbert, who captured the Ojai Valley Tournament individual championship last weekend and was undefeated in the spring (25-0).
CMS took an 8-4 win at No. 1 doubles, and the decision at No. 2 doubles came down to tiebreaker, with the Athenas team of Crystal Lim and Sarah Kukino winning 7-3 in the tiebreaker to take the swing point going into singles.
Padmanabhan was the first to finish to tie the match up 2-2, but Kristin Lim fought off a challenge from senior Jamie Solomon (Los Gatos, Calif.) at No. 1 singles (6-3 in the second set) to make the overall score 3-2, and Crystal Lim prevailed in the second set at No. 3 for the clinching point.
Pomona-Pitzer was playing without usual No. 2 singles player Mae Coyiuto (Makati City, Philippines), who had to retire from her semifinal match yesterday in 90-plus degree temperatures. She was held out of the line-up today, as everyone moved up a spot on the ladder, with senior Kara Wang (Saratoga, Calif.), who hasn't played singles in the second half of the season due to a shoulder injury, inserted at No. 6.
The Sagehens came into the SCIAC Tournament ranked No. 10 in the nation, and defeated No. 11 Redlands in the semifinals 7-2, which should be enough to solidify an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. NCAA selections will be announced on Monday, with likely six teams earning bids to the NCAA West Regional, with the top two seeds getting byes.
