Women's Tennis Scores Upset Over No. 13 Ranked Trinity

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Utilizing two quick wins in doubles, the Whitman women’s tennis team went on to upset No. 13 ranked Trinity (TX) 5 – 2, the first victory over a top 15 team in the program’s recent history, yesterday in Claremont, California. The Missionaries are playing three highly regarded teams over three days at the neutral site.

With a 2 – 1 lead coming out of doubles, Morgan Lawless (So., Austin, TX) got a quick victory at No. 3 singles 6-0, 6-1. Although the Whits were feeling confident, they had held a 4-3 advantage over Trinity last season, only to see the Tigers come back and win 5 – 4, thus, maintaining the intensity level was imperative, according to Coach John Hein.

Alyssa Roberg (Sr., Alyssa Roberg) got a victory at No. 2, cruising to a 6-2, 6-2 decision, and when Courtney Lawless (So., Austin, TX) hammered down a win at No. 1, battling through a tough first set to prevail 7-5, 6-1, the Missionaries clinched the match.

With the outcome cemented, the match was called as Trinity needed to catch their flight to their next match. At that time, Whitman’s Kate Rubinstein (Fy., Portland, OR) was up a set in her match and Kate Kunkel-Patterson (Sr., Yakima, WA) had just started and was on serve.

In doubles, C. Lawless and Roberg, at No. 1, got up 7-5 in a very competitive match before Trinity’s Mackenzie Knoop suffered an injury and had to withdraw. Maddy Webster (So., Long Beach, CA) and M. Lawless rolled at No. 2, recording an 8-3 victory. Rubinstein and Katrina Allick came back from two breaks at No. 3 in a marathon match, before finally succumbing 8-9.

The Victory puts the Missionaries at 10 – 2 on the season. They continue their busy Spring Break with another match today against UT-Tyler (TX), also in Claremont.

Match Results

Doubles

WC Alyssa Roberg/Courtney Lawless def. TU Thavindra Ekanayake/MacKenzie Knoop 7-5 retired (injury)

WC Maddy Webster/Morgan Lawless def. TU Caroline White/Kylie Hornbeck 8-3

TU Kristy Hamilton/Stephanie Williamson 9-8(4) def. WC Kate Rubinstein/Katrina Allick

 

Singles

WC C. Lawless def. TU Ekanayake 7-5, 6-1

WC Roberg def. TU Hornbeck 6-2, 6-2

WC M. Lawless def. TU White 6-0, 6-1

TU Gabrielle Roe def. WC Jenna Dobrin 6-1, 6-2

WC Rubinstein led TU Kathleen Lundquist 6-2, unfinished

WC Kate Kunkel-Patterson tied with TU Williamson 2-2, unfinished

Contact:

Andrew Holt

Whitman Sports Information Director

holtac@whitman.edu

509.527.5902