By Tim Heiduk
February 6, 2020
 
(RIVERSIDE, Calif.) Westmont women's tennis (1-5) lost to UC Riverside (2-3) on Wednesday, 1-6, the Warriors' third loss against NCAA Division I opposition so far this season.
 
"This match had a much different pace to the Biola match," Westmont head coach Ellie Johnson said. "It took us a little too long to adjust, but as the match progressed, our players did also."
 
Johnson highlighted Christine Hemry for making adjustments throughout her number five singles match against Hanh Pham, which Pham won 6-2, 6-4.
 
"Christine (Hemry) stands out in that aspect. She worked the points very well in the first set but started to execute the set up beautifully in the second."
 
Cade Pierson defeated her second NCAA Division I singles opponent on the season, defeating Natalie Shamma at number one: 6-2, 5-7, 10-8.
 
"Cade's composure and ability to fight until the last ball stands out in most matches, but especially today," Johnson said. "Her athleticism and mental toughness gave her the edge."
 
Pierson improved to 5-1 on the season, winning her fourth singles match in a row. In the Warriors' five losses this season, the team has totaled five points. Pierson has won four of those with her efforts in singles.
 
Other than Pierson and Hemry, no other Warrior earned more than two points in any set against the Highlanders. At number two, Tia Elpusan defeated Emily Peterson, 6-2, 6-0. Lindsey Gelinas beat Rachal Jackson at number three, 6-0, 6-1. Sidney Lowry was tripped up by Sara Khattab, falling 6-1 in both sets.
 
Sofia Lazzaroni defeated Ava Verchimak at number six, 6-0, 6-0. Johnson was pleased with the continued growth she's seen out of Verchimak.
 
"Ava has grown as a player each match and today she did just that, lengthening points and working her opponent," Johnson said.
 
UC Riverside took all three matches in doubles. Pierson and Peterson lost at number one to Elpusan and Khattab, 2-6. The duos of Lowry and Jackson and Hemry and Ana Negri were both defeated, 1-6, at numbers two and three respectively.
 
The Warriors are off for over a week until they begin Golden State Athletic Conference play on Feb. 15 against Marymount.
 
"We are going to spend time working on how to execute the deuce point," Johnson said. "If we can gain confidence on those points as a team, we will have very different results in our favor."