The No. 11 University of Redlands women's tennis team captured a share of the 2009 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) championship by upsetting No. 7 Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, 5-4, during the conference tournament final on Saturday.

After faltering to the Sagehens on April 12, the Bulldogs rebounded with this exciting win to earn the SCIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, which begin on May 8.

In doubles, the Maroon and Gray nabbed the first point with an 8-5 performance by the No. 2 duo of sophomore Sara Yoshinaga (Honolulu, HI) and senior Kaleena Wakamatsu (Maui, HI). Pomona-Pitzer responded by tying the match with an 8-6 victory at No 1. However, the Bulldogs came up with the all-important win at No. 3 as senior Tori Damiani (Sacramento, CA) and junior Rachael Miller (Newport Beach, CA) prevailed by a score of 8-6.

Holding a slight 2-1 advantage, Redlands suffered a tough loss at No. 1 singles but then quickly rebounded with an impressive 6-2, 6-4 showing by junior Paige Sumida (Hilo, HI) at the No. 2 spot.

Nonetheless, the Sagehens came back once again with a victory at No. 4 to tie the score at three apiece.

The Bulldogs needed just two of the remaining three matches in order to capture the win. Junior Whitney Waters (Austin, TX) provided a big 7-6 (3), 6-3 victory at No. 5 and then Damiani rallied back from a set down at No. 3, clinching the win for Redlands with her 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 performance.

The Sagehens earned the final point with a three-set win at No.6, resulting in the 5-4 final in favor of the Bulldogs.

Redlands (16-6, 9-1 SCIAC) next competes at the 109th Ojai Valley Tournament on Thursday, April 23, through Sunday, April 26.