By Tim Heiduk
February 5, 2020
 
(LA MIRADA, Calif.) The Westmont women's tennis team, ranked 14th in the NAIA, picked up its first win of the new season on Tuesday when the Warriors took down current NCAA Division II school and former GSAC foe Biola, 4-2.
 
"I am so proud of the team's focus and fight. It was a battle and the team earned its victory," Westmont head coach Ellie Johnson said. "The team went out motivated and focused to play every point as its own."
 
In doubles, Westmont came close to taking the one point available, but fell just short when Sidney Lowry and Rachal Jackson were defeated by Anna Hartmann and Lauren Lee at number two, 5-7. Cade Pierson and Emily Peterson gave the Warriors a chance by winning their match at number one, 6-2, against Colbeyshae Emery and Brooke Fager. At number three, Christine Hemry and Ana Negri lost to Allison Torres and Ines Diaz, 1-6.
 
"We got one step closer to winning the doubles point with each court playing better doubles than the match before," Johnson said.
 
In singles, Westmont took four of the five matches that were completed with one match left unfinished.
 
Pierson improved to 4-1 on the young season, winning her third straight match at number one, defeating Emery: 6-1, 2-6, 7-5.
 
"Cade battled through a close three-set match," Johnson said. "She did what she had to do."
 
Peterson won a three-set match of her own, rebounding from losing the first set to win the next two. She defeated Diaz at number two: 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
 
"After losing the first set, Emily started stepping in and dictating the points to win the next two sets," Johnson said.
 
Sidney Lowry and Christine Hemry won their matches in straight sets at numbers four and five respectively. Lowry beat Lee 6-2, 6-1, while Hemry defeated Madison Swaney 6-1, 6-4.
 
"Sidney set up smart points to take control of the match early on," Johnson said. "Christine played with incredible patience."
 
Ava Verchimak dropped her match at number six to Allison Torres, 0-6, 1-6. But Johnson was very encouraged by the freshman's performance.
 
"Ava played her best tennis yet," Johnson said. "She continues to lay a solid foundation to build on."
 
Jackson's match at number three against Fager was left unfinished. She lost the first set, 4-6, before coming back to win the second set, 6-3. Jackson was trailing 2-4 in the fourth when the Warriors clinched the match.
 
"Rachal stayed very steady and settled in more and more as the match went on, which is exciting looking forward to our upcoming matches," Johnson said.
 
Westmont (1-4) stays on the road to take on UC Riverside (1-3) today at 1:30 p.m. The Highlanders are the third NCAA Division I team the Warriors will have played in their first six matches this season. This is the final tune-up match for the team before it begins GSAC play on Feb. 15 at Marymount (0-1).
 
"We are excited to continue to build with our match against UC Riverside," Johnson said.