By Jacob Norling
February 21, 2025
 
(ORANGE, Calif.) The Westmont Women's Tennis team has made it two straight on Friday night, as the Warriors defeated the Chapman Panthers by a score of 5-2 in Orange. The Warriors took care of business on four courts in singles on Friday, after winning a pivotal doubles point to start the day.
 
Chapman got started early in doubles with a 6-3 win at line one, but Justie Spitzer and Francesca Aguirre evened things out with a 6-4 win at line three. With the day's first point on the line, Liska Knight and Sophia Ostovany won a tiebreaker 7-1 to win the set 7-6, putting Westmont on top early.
 
"I was so proud of how our three's competed, and was especially proud with how our two's competed," reflected Westmont head coach Cade Pierson. "Our two's have been pretty clutch for us lately. Honestly, they played okay and had several chances to close. They didn't, and then they fell down towards the end.
 
"You can crumble under that pressure or you can rise to the occasion, and they most definitely rose. Honestly, I didn't know which was going to happen. I was proud of the fact that they seemed to lean into the pressure at that moment. That's something that in the past, this team has not necessarily done well. This team, this season, we're showing that we can handle that pressure when it's on us."
 
Aguirre got Westmont started hot in singles by dispatching Sydney La 6-3, 6-1 at line one, before Lauren Gee quickly defeated Lucy Wallin 7-6 (1), 6-0 on court three. Chapman got a win at line six, but a quick clinch came on court five, where Justie Spitzer defeated Valentina Bellagamba 6-4, 6-4. After clinching, Johanna Winkler bested Chloe McBride 6-4, 7-5 to put the icing on the cake.
 
"Frenchy was challenged, but she played well," assured Pierson. "Lauren really stood out today, as well. She had a really tough first set, but played scrappy, and kind of played outside of her style. She showed some serious versatility to win that first set, and then she cruised in the second.
 
"Then for Jo, she was challenged today. I was really happy to see the way she competed, with a ton of grit after she's had a lot going on. Then, Justie, of course, played solid as well. She continues to impress with her mental growth and maturity as a player. There was genuine good on every court today."
 
The Warriors are right back at it on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m., when Westmont will look to make it three in a row against the Cal Lutheran Regals in Santa Barbara.