The Sea Lions opened up the year with a 9-0 conference triumph over visiting Westmont Saturday at the PLNU Tennis Courts. The Green and Gold claimed all three doubles points before claiming the six singles matches for the 9-0 win.
Coach Rich Hills has rebuilt the Sea Lion lineup since a rare losing season two years ago. The team made strides in 2009 and look primed for an excellent 2010 campaign.
"We aren't overconfident but we think we are pretty good," said junior Rachel Owens who won both of her matches. "I don't know if we expected to play this well in our first game but hopefully it's a sign of things to come."
All three doubles teams that took the court Saturday are different from the previous season. All-American Kristin Strimple was paired with newcomer Jessica Kwan in court one doubles. The duo lost just one game in an 8-1 win. Owens and junior transfer Ashley Litchfield posted an 8-0 blanking on two with freshmen Kiersten Steinhauer and Wileen Chiu winning 8-2.
Once singles began, it didn't take long for the Sea Lions to wrap up the five points necessary for the team victory. Kwan swept Hanna Day 6-0, 6-0 on court five with Strimple, Owens and Chiu each notching 6-1, 6-0 wins on courts one, three and six, respectively. Litchfield was pushed to a 6-2, 6-2 score on two by Tara Yerang. Steinhauer took the opening set 6-0 and settled for a 6-3 win in the second.
PLNU welcomes Pomona-Pitzer next Saturday for a 2:00 pm non-conference tilt.
Point Loma Nazarene University 9, Westmont 0
Jan 30, 2010 at San Diego, CA (PLNU Tennis Courts)
|
Singles competition
|
|
1. STRIMPLE, Kristin (PLNU) def. MATHEWS, Ilissa (WC) 6-1, 6-0
|
|
2. LITCHFIELD, Ashley (PLNU) def. YERANG, Tara (WC) 6-2, 6-2
|
|
3. OWENS, Rachel (PLNU) def. CHHUM, Sarah (WC) 6-1, 6-0
|
|
4. STEINHAUER, Kiersten (PLNU) def. LOUIE, Sarah (WC) 6-0, 6-3
|
|
5. KWAN, Jessica (PLNU) def. DAY, HANNA (WC) 6-0, 6-0
|
|
6. CHIU, Wileen (PLNU) def. SEVERSON, Audrey (WC) 6-1, 6-0
|
|
Doubles competition
|
|
1. STRIMPLE, Kristin/KWAN, Jessica (PLNU) def. MATHEWS, Ilissa/YERANG, Tara (WC) 8-1
|
|
2. LITCHFIELD, Ashley/OWENS, Rachel (PLNU) def. CHHUM, Sarah/LOUIE, Sarah (WC) 8-0
|
|
3. CHIU, Wileen/STEINHAUER, Kiersten (PLNU) def. DAY, HANNA/SEVERSON, Audrey (WC) 8-2
|
|
Match Notes
|
|
Westmont 0-1, 0-1 GSAC
|
|
Point Loma Nazarene University 1-0, 1-0 GSAC
|
|
Opening Match of 2010
|
|
T-1:30
|
