CMC75 Moments: 1977 Women's Tennis Earns Dramatic First Win, Builds to 8-2 SCIAC Season in 1979
As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moment, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.
Great Moments from 75 Years of Athletics
1977 Women's Tennis: Athenas Edge Whittier 5-4 for First Dual Win
The debut of women's athletics at CMS (briefly abbreviated as "SCHM" for Scripps-Claremont-Harvey Mudd) saw some immediate success in year one, with the women's tennis program perhaps having the most dramatic debut win of the new programs. The Athenas had an 8-0 loss in their first match, but gave Redlands a solid battle in the second one, falling just 5-4. In match three, the Athenas captured the first victory for the program in dramatic fashion, edging Whittier just 5-4 to improve to 1-2 on the year. CMS went on to defeat Occidental 6-4, La Verne 5-4 and Occidental again 9-0 to tally a four-match winning streak in its debut season before settling for a 5-5 finish and a tie for third place in the league. Patti Long played at No. 1 singles, with Karen Richards, Carolyn Pollack, Susan Liff, Anne DePue and Catherine Gray rounding out the top six.
The Athenas, coached by Gerry Lahanas, who was also the founding women's athletic director when the Athenas began competing in 1976-77, quickly ascended into the top echelon of the SCIAC. After another 5-5 season in 1978, they finished 8-2 in league competition in 1979, giving league champion Pomona-Pitzer a solid run before falling 6-3, coming close to a share of the league title in only their third season of competition and putting in place the building blocks for a program that has won 20 SCIAC titles and counting. Richards served as the 1979 team captain and won the team's senior award after completing her third season with the new Scripps-Claremont-Harvey Mudd varsity team, while Brenda Banta and Suzanne Frost were All-SCIAC selections. Long graduated in 1980 as the program's first four-year player.
1977 Women's Tennis Roster (first team)
Head Coach: Gerry Lahanas
Tracey Borst (Scripps)
Robin Burt (Scripps)
Cindy Carroll (HMC)
Anne DePue (Scripps)
Catherine Gray (Scripps)
Catherine Hubbell (Scripps)
Jennifer Jones (CMC)
Susan Liff (CMC)
Anne Lippert (Scripps)
Patti Long (Scripps)
Nancy McLain (CMC)
Julie Pinkoski (CMC)
Carolyn Pollack (Scripps)
Pam Polzin (CMC)
Karen Richards (Scripps)
Lydia Rivera (Scripps)
1979 Women's Tennis Roster (8-2 SCIAC)
Head Coach: Gerry Lahanas
Brenda Banta (Scripps)
Katie Berg (Scripps)
Sue Drinkward (Scripps)
Libby Husted (CMC)
Suzanne Frost (Scripps)
Patti Long (Scripps)
Karen Richards (Scripps)
Dede Smith (Scripps)
Serena Schourup (Scripps)