CMS 5, Trinity 0
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. 

Pomona-Pitzer 5, Whitman 0 

In the second round of the NCAA Women’s National Championships, Pomona-Pitzer defeated Whitman 5-0 to advance to the third round where they will play Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

Pomona-Pitzer started the match well as they swept doubles play 3-0. The Sagehens strongest doubles performance came in No. 1 doubles where Lea Lynn Yen and Grace Hruska defeated Courtney Lawless and Morgan Lawless of Whitman 8-2.

In singles Pomona-Pitzer built on the momentum they had in doubles with two strong singles performances to seal the 5-0 victory.  Pomona-Pitzer’s two singles wins came from No. 6 singles where Maddie Gordan defeated Lindsey Brodeck 6-2, 6-; while Grace Hruska of Pomona-Pitzer defeated Allie Wallin in No. 4 singles 6-2, 6-1 for the fifth and final point.

Pomona-Pitzer will play CMS on Sunday, May 10 at 10 a.m. in Claremont, California at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center.