Photo by samsphotoservices.com

The Occidental Women's Tennis Team picked up two big road wins this past weekend against SCIAC opponents. On Friday, the Tigers knocked off #36 Cal Lutheran University 6-3 in a tight match that saw five singles matches go the full three sets. On Saturday, the Tigers followed it up by defeating the Whittier College Poets 7-2.

Against Cal Lutheran, the Tigers started strong with a 8-2 win at number one doubles by seniors Sarah Fleming and Andei Fukushige. After the Regals took number two doubles 8-5, the final doubles point came down to a tiebreaker at number three doubles. Tiger seniors Emma Silber and Lillian Lin came up clutch in the tiebreaker winning 8-7(5) to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead heading into singles.

In singles the Tigers struck first with Fleming winning 6-0,7-5 to extend the team lead to 3-1. Fukushige took the first set 7-5 on court one, but the Regals won the first set on courts three through six and appeared on their way to victory. However, the Tigers came roaring back to win the second set on courts three through six and force deciding third sets. Silber was the first three set match to finish with a 1-6,7-5,6-2 win at number five singles. Junior Mathilde Depery then clinched the match for the Tigers with her 3-6,6-3,6-4 win at number six singles. Fukushige picked up the final point of the day for the Tigers by defeating the number four singles player in the West Region 7-5,2-6,6-4. The Regals won hard fought victories at number three singles 6-1,3-6,6-4 and number four singles 6-3,4-6,7-5 to bring the final tally to 6-3 in favor of the Tigers.

Occidental College 6

California Lutheran University 3

April 7, 2023 

Doubles

1. Andei Fukushige/Sarah Fleming (Oxy) def. M. Bufkin/M. Ahmadi (CLU) 8-2

2. L. Carcia/L. Sebastian (CLU) def. Alexis Matabuena/Mathilde Depery (Oxy) 8-5

3. Emma Silber/Lillian Lin (Oxy) def. R. Maestas/K. Kling (CLU) 8-7[7-5]

 Singles

1. Andei Fukushige (Oxy) def M. Bufkin (CLU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4

2. Sarah Fleming (Oxy) def. L. Garcia (CLU) 6-0, 7-5

3. L. Sebastian (CLU) def. Alexis Matabuena (Oxy) 6-1, 3-6, 6-4

4. M. Ahmadi (CLU) def. Julia Chun (Oxy) 6-3, 4-6, 7-5

5. Emma Silber (Oxy) def. R. Maestas (CLU) 1-6, 7-5, 6-2

6. Mathilde Depery (Oxy) def. K. Kling (CLU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4

On Saturday against the Poets, the doubles score was once again knotted at 1-1 with number three doubles in a deciding tiebreaker. Lin and Silber pulled through for the Tigers, fighting off a match point and winning 8-7(7) to give Oxy a 2-1 lead heading into singles play.

In singles, Fukushige won 6-1,6-1 at one singles, Fleming won 6-3,6-4 at two singles, junior Alexis Matabuena won 6-3,6-1 at three singles, Silber won 6-0,6-2 at five singles, and Depery won 4-6,6-0,10-4 to give the Tigers the 7-2 victory.

The Tigers return to action at home this Tuesday at 4pm against Pomona-Pitzer.

Occidental College 7

Whittier College 2

April 8, 2023 

Doubles

1. Andei Fukushige/Sarah Fleming (Oxy) def. J. Saunders/E. List (WC) 8-4

2. K. Arendt/M. Davis (WC) def. Alexis Matabuena/Mathilde Depery (Oxy) 8-5

3. Emma Silber/Lillian Lin (Oxy) def. M. Suryavanshi/M. Vardham (WC) 8-7[9-7]

 Singles

1. Andei Fukushige (Oxy) def M. Suryavanshi (WC) 6-1, 6-1

2. Sarah Fleming (Oxy) def. J. Saunders (WC) 6-3, 6-4

3. Alexis Matabuena (Oxy) def. M. Davis (WC) 6-3, 6-1

4. M. Vardham (WC) def. Julia Chun (Oxy) 7-6[7-4], 6-2

5. Emma Silber (Oxy) def. K. Arendt (WC) 6-0, 6-2

6. Mathilde Depery (Oxy) def. E. List (WC) 4-6, 6-0[10-4]