CLAREMONT, Calif. — No. 23 La Verne tennis team pulled out three gutsy wins in the singles competition against Linfield, but could not climb out of a 2-1 doubles hole in a 5-4 loss to the Wildcats on Wednesday afternoon at the Claremont Club.
Janae Chinn and Shenelle Trujillo got the Leopards off to a good start with an 8-6 win over Marisa Doveri and Sierra Lemon at No. 2 doubles but the Wildcats rallied to claim Nos. 1 and 3 matches in tiebreakers to get out to a 2-1 lead.
Linfield quickly got out to a 3-1 lead as Elsa Harris beat La Verne freshman Savanah Goode, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 2 singles. Trujillo topped Basia Kopecka, 6-4, 6-3, at No. 4 to keep pace but the Wildcats won Nos. 5 and 6 to clinch the match.
But the Leopards did not go down quietly. Bridget Etchegaray beat No. 22 singles player Ella Riddle, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, at No. 1 singles for the biggest win of the young season and Janae Chinn went the distance with Doveri, winning the third-set tiebreaker, 15-13, after splitting the first two.
The Leopards jump into SCIAC action on Saturday at Occidental.
Doubles competition
- Riddle/Harris (LC) def. Etchegaray/Goode (LV), 9-7
- Chinn/Trujillo (LV) def. Doveri/Lemon (LC), 8-6
- Kopecka/Mostul (LC) def. Fisher/Madewell (LV), 9-8(7)
Singles competition
- Bridget Etchegaray (LV) def. Ella Riddle (LC), 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
- Elsa Harris (LC) def. Savanah Goode (LV), 6-3, 6-2
- Janae Chinn (LV) def. Marisa Doveri (LC), 6-2, 4-6, 15-13
- Shenelle Trujillo (LV) def. Basia Kopecka (LC), 6-4, 6-3
- Marisa Kume (LC) def. Madison Madewell (LV), 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
- Sierra Lemon (LC) def. Areli Martinez (LV), 6-1, 7-6(4)
