By Tim Heiduk
March 7, 2020
 
(SURPRISE, Ariz.) Both Westmont men's and women's tennis teams were swept by Indiana Wesleyan on Thursday, losing by identical scores of 4-0.
 
The two Warrior squads played the Wildcats in a neutral site match before taking on Ottawa (Ariz.) and Arizona Christian in Golden State Athletic Conference action. The Indiana Wesleyan women are ranked ninth in the NAIA, while the men are ranked 15th.
 
"Even though it was not our best performance, the team fought until the end," Westmont women's tennis head coach Ellie Johnson said. "Indiana Wesleyan came out strong and played smart points. We didn't come out as steady as was needed.
 
"As the matches went on, we settled in and were playing much better points. It's a great match to carry into the rest of our conference play."
 
The Wildcats won all three doubles matches to take the point available in doubles, before winning all three singles matches that were completed.
 
Maddie Bemisderfer defeated Emily Peterson at number two, 6-2, 7-6. Thewuni Devaraja took down Sidney Lowry at number four, 6-0, 6-2. Ellie Snider beat Ana Negri, 6-1, 6-0, at number six.
 
In unfinished singles matches, Christine Hemry held a 4-6, 7-6, 3-2 lead at number five. Cade Pierson split sets with her opponent at number one, winning the first set 6-3 before dropping the second one 4-6. Rachal Jackson lost the first set at number three, 6-7, but held a 5-4 advantage in the second set when the match was called.
 
On the men's side, the Wildcats also took all three doubles matches to claim the doubles' point. Indiana Wesleyan then won the three singles matches completed and was winning the other three that were left unfinished when the Wildcats clinched their victory.
 
At number one singles, Martin Carrizo defeated Matthew Alleman, 6-0, 6-4. Then at number two, Zachary Prince retired with Grant Esposito leading 6-4, 4-0, before Diego Freire took down Ryan Chung at number four: 6-2, 6-1.
 
When the match was called, Mariano Jalif was leading Benjamin Saito at number three (6-1, 4-1), Alex Serwatka was ahead of Sebastian Vethan at number five (6-0, 5-3) and former Warrior Jason Wegener held a 6-4, 3-2 lead over Abraham Pauta at number six.