Kyla Clinches, Athenas Sweep Their Way to National Semifinals
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CLAREMONT, Calif. – The No. 3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Athenas defended their home court in the National Quarterfinals on Monday evening at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center with a 5-0 sweep of the MIT Engineers. After a clean sweep through doubles play, seniors Lindsay Brown (CMC) and Kyla Scott (HMC) earned victories in the No. 3 and No. 4 singles matches, respectively to clinch CMS' spot in the National Semifinals against the No. 2 Williams Ephs. Tuesday's semifinal against the Ephs is slated to begin at 3:00 p.m.
Lindsay Brown made quick work of MIT's Kelly Zhu with a dominating 6-2, 6-0 victory on court three to lock up the fourth team point for CMS. After claiming a 7-5 battle in the opening set, Kyla Scott put the finishing touches on a Quarterfinal team victory by claiming the second set 6-1 to earn the fifth team point with a 7-5, 6-1 win.
In doubles play, the Athenas claimed their 22nd doubles sweep of the season to build a comfortable lead. CMS earned comfortable victories on both the No. 2 and No. 3 courts, dropping just five games across the two matches. The team of Catherine Allen (SC) and Caroline Cox (CMC) extended their doubles winning streak to nine-straight matches with an 8-2 victory on court two. With an 8-3 victory in the third doubles match, the Harvey Mudd team of Juliette Martin (HMC) and Kyla Scott improved their doubles record to 22-1 on the season. Like Allen/Cox, they also having an extended winning streak, with 14-straight victories, dating back more than two months to mid-March.
The only closer doubles match came at the top court, but the CMS team of Nicole Tan (CMC) and Lindsay Brown prevailed with an 8-6 victory and the Athenas held a 3-0 advantage heading into singles play.
As mentioned, Brown wasted little time putting the fourth point on the board for the Athenas with a 6-2, 6-0 victory at No. 3 singles. With CMS leading 4-0, the race for the final point was on amongst the Athenas. Kyla Scott was the first to close out her match with a 7-5, 6-0 victory on court four against MIT's Dora Tzeng. Catherine Allen (No. 2 singles), Rebecca Berger (No. 5 singles), and Caroline Cox (No. 6 singles) all won their first sets as well with Berger and Cox both holding comfortable leads in the second set when Scott ended the match.
CMS now advances to play the defending National Champion and No. 2-ranked, Williams Ephs on Tuesday (May 22) at 3:00 p.m. at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center in the National Semifinals. This is not the first time that the Athenas and Ephs have met at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center this season. Williams traveled to Southern California at the end of March and handed the Athenas their first loss of the season with a 5-4 decision on Mar. 24.
