By Zach DeMarcus
April 19, 2018
 
(INDIAN WELLS, Calif.) Westmont Women's Tennis (9-10) defeated Arizona Christian (10-11) in decisive fashion in today's Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinal by a score of 5-0. Peyton Trebisky and Isabel Lee dug deep to come out with a 9-7 victory at number one doubles.
 
Westmont head coach Ellie Johnson said, "I think we played a very strong match. These ones can be tough when the pressure's on us. We've beat them twice pretty handedly (8-1, 9-0), but Arizona's a good team in terms of finding a way to give it a fight. Going up 3-0 after doubles was huge going into singles. Especially the way that we won the number one doubles."
 
The Warriors got off to a spectacular start as the three doubles teams would go on to sweep the opening three points. Delaney Roche and Tatum Phillips got the Warriors on the board with an 8-2 win over Jayci Kelley and Gabby Gutierrez at number three doubles. In the two position, Cade Pierson and Taylor Cheung-Damonte followed suit with a decisive 8-2 victory over Mikayla Morgan and Elizabeth Kelley.

Number one doubles followed a different script. Lee and Trebisky were taking on Maria Garduno and Autria Compton. Westmont was ahead 5-4 and then went down 5-6. Lee was serving strong and Trebisky was playing well at the net to give the Warriors the 7-6 advantage. Arizona Christian would respond by tying the game at seven a piece.
 
After going down 15-love, Westmont won the next four points to go ahead 8-7. In the potential match-deciding game, Lee and Trebisky went up 30-love. They then conceded two points, leaving the game tied 30-30. Westmont would score the next point, giving them their first match point. After a short rally, Trebisky hit a strong volley to win the point and seal the match for Westmont – giving the Warriors the early 3-0 advantage.
 
Johnson said, "Peyton and Isabel stayed steady throughout but really picked it up at the end in taking control at the net – that is where doubles is always won. They had to take a few risks at the net in order to finish the points. At the same time, they played excellent defense and found a way to fight through the points."
 
It only took two singles matches to conclude for Westmont to be named the victors. In the GSAC tournament, matches end once one team reaches five total points. Cheung-Damonte didn't concede a set as she defeated Janae Watt 6-0, 6-0 to give Westmont its fourth point.
 
Pierson won the match-deciding fifth point for the Warriors as she defeated Garduno 6-1, 6-0 in the two position. Pierson has been a steady piece to Westmont's lineup all year. Johnson added, "She's been a huge player at two for us – very reliable against some strong players, and today it was no exception.
 
"She played smart, steady tennis. She set the points up with her strengths in order to take advantage of her opponent's weaknesses. I think Cade's serving impacted her ability to take control of the points from the beginning. She executed and that was a huge win at two."
 
Westmont will now prepare to face San Diego Christian for the GSAC Tournament Championship. The Warriors lost both meeting with the Hawks this season. The first loss was 2-7 on February 24 and the second was a 4-5 defeat last Saturday.
 
"Tomorrow is going to be an exciting match. We just lost 4-5 to San Diego Christian last weekend. It's going to be a battle – it's always a battle when we play with San Diego Christian. Our players want it, San Diego wants it and everyone brings out the best tennis. I think tomorrow's the best championship game for the tournament that we could ask for. Doubles is going to be huge. Then it's about playing smart, strong, confident tennis," finished Johnson.
 
Tomorrow's championship match is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.