The No. 12 University of Redlands men's tennis team dominated No. 22 Whittier College on Friday afternoon in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) showdown at Verdieck Courts, cruising to a 7-2 victory over the Poets. After winning all three doubles matches, the Bulldogs prevailed in four of six singles matches in the important conference triumph.
The No. 1 Maroon and Gray doubles team grabbed the early lead for the Bulldogs when sophomores Patrick Lipscomb (Irvine, CA) and Gram Leahy (Portland, OR) defeated their Poet counterparts, 8-4.
Sophomores Max Licona (Culver City, CA) and Teddy Jones (St. Louis, MO) followed up that early win with a hard-fought triumph of their own, defeating their No. 3 opponents in a tight match, 8-6. Sophomore Nick Cummins (Rancho Mirage, CA) and senior Connor Hyde (Peterborough, NH) then closed out the strong doubles showing for the U of R by winning at No. 2 by a score of 8-5.
Knowing they only needed to capture two wins in the singles matches, the Bulldogs jumped on the opportunity and secured the victory by taking the first two singles bouts. Lipscomb made quick work of his opponent in the top spot, winning in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. Freshman Jacob Lousche (Bakersfield, CA) then secured the deciding triumph for the U of R by defeating his opponent in the No. 6 spot, 6-2 and 6-3.
With the team's win already in hand, Redlands sophomore Taylor Hunt (Seattle, WA) provided an impressive effort at the No. 4 slot, winning 7-6(6), 6-3. Furthermore, Cummins came from behind on the No. 2 court to win in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4).
The Bulldogs (10-7) welcome No. 17 Gustavus Adolphus College (MN) to Verdieck Courts on Wednesday, April 3, in another important non-conference showdown at 3 p.m.
