CMS moves on to NCAA third round by making quick work of Trinity

CLAREMONT, Calif. - In just about two hours of play, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's tennis team took care of business as they defeated Trinity (Texas) 5-0 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championships on May 9 at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center. With the win, CMS has advanced to the regional final against Pomona-Pitzer (who defeated Whitman) on Sunday, May 10 at 10 a.m. in Claremont.

This marks the fifth-straight season that CMS and Pomona-Pitzer will play each other for a regional championship and a chance to move on the to the NCAA quarterfinals. CMS won the previous four seasons including a 5-0 win last season.

Against Trinity, CMS put its first point on the board with a win at No. 2 doubles. Initially, CMS' No. 2 doubles of team of Sarah Kukino and Kyla Scott trailed 4-2 to Gabrielle Roe and Caroline White. However, wins in six-straight games by Scott and Kukino put away the match win, 8-4, and gave CMS a 1-0 lead. Lindsay Brown and Lauren Livingston followed with an 8-4 win also, while the No. 1 doubles team for CMS of Caroline Ward and Katie Kuosman won 8-3 to give CMS a commanding 3-0 advantage heading into singles play.

A pair of straight-set victories by Brown (6-0, 6-1) in No. 4 singles and Kukino (6-2, 6-2) in No. 3 singles ended the match and gave CMS the win. Kukino had the clinching win over White. CMS also led in No. 1, 5 and 6 singles when the match ended. Trinity's Liza Southwick led Kuosman 6-2, 1-0 in No. 2 singles.

Results