By Tim Heiduk
February 29, 2020
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) In a matchup of two Golden State Athletic Conference teams ranked in the top-20 of the NAIA, the 14th ranked Westmont women's tennis team (3-7, 2-1 GSAC) fell on the wrong side of a 4-0 result against visiting #20 San Diego Christian (4-3, 3-0) on Friday.
 
"We know it's going to be a battle when we play San Diego Christian and today definitely was," Westmont head coach Ellie Johnson said. "It's a tough loss with our history, but it's matches like this that are why we play college tennis."
 
The Hawks narrowly defeated the Warriors in doubles, winning two matches by scores of 6-4. The remaining match was left unfinished at 6-5 in favor of San Diego Christian.
 
Reigning GSAC Player of the Year Sarah Urbanek teamed up with Nadine Geschke to defeat Cade Pierson and Emily Peterson at number one, while Valentina Sottile and Angela Rinaldi took down Sidney Lowry and Ana Negri at number three.
 
The duo of Rachal Jackson and Christine Hemry did not have time to finish its match at number two against Barbara Damiani and Tomi Felix because the Hawks had already claimed the one point available in doubles.
 
"Doubles was extremely close," Johnson said. "We definitely built in this much going off our weekend with Fresno Pacific. We had opportunities to take the doubles' point which is exciting and disappointing."
 
In singles, San Diego won the three matches that were finished to complete a 4-0 victory.
 
Rinaldi defeated Jackson at number three (6-1, 6-3), while Sottile took down Hemry at number five (6-4, 6-2) and Felix beat Negri at number six (6-0, 6-0).
 
Peterson was the lone Warrior to be leading her match, winning the first set against Damiani at number two, 6-1. Damiani held a 5-3 advantage in the second set when the Hawks claimed their overall victory by winning three matches in singles.
 
Pierson's match against Urbanek at number one was left unfinished with Urbanek leading 6-4, 4-2. Lowry was down 5-7, 0-1 to Geschke at number four when the rest of singles play was called off.
 
"Every match in singles was very evenly matched," Johnson said. "San Diego Christian beat us in their singles play. I have confidence we can and will take this match the next time we play them."
 
The Warriors return to GSAC play today against Hope International (3-5, 1-2) at 11:00 a.m.