The No. 20 University of Redlands women's tennis team squared off against two opponents in a busy Saturday of action on Verdieck Courts, earning split results that were highlighted by the Bulldogs' first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) victory of the season.

During the second match of the day, the Maroon and Gray blew by Occidental College in the opening conference showdown of the year.  The Bulldogs collected a dominating sweep in doubles and then cruised through the singles to collect the 9-0 win.  Sophomore Claire Bohoskey (Yakima, WA) and freshman Madison Ross (San Diego, CA) teamed up at the No. 3 spot to initiate the scoring with an 8-2 victory, before the freshman tandem of Kate Dolan (St. Louis, MO) and Elizabeth Johnson (Portland, OR) posted an 8-1 win at No. 2.  Seniors Natalie Etchegaray (Placentia, CA) and Lauren Villanueva (El Segundo, CA) completed the sweep with their 8-2 performance at the top position.

The Bulldogs continued to dominate in singles, with Ross taking care of business in an efficient 6-1, 6-0 effort at the No.6 slot.  Villanueva put this one in the books by defeating her No. 3 opponent by scores of 6-1, 6-1. 

In addition, Etchegaray, Bohoskey, junior Emily Murnin (Salt Lake City, UT), and senior Gabriela Vasquez (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) each recorded wins at their respective positions.

In the earlier match, the Bulldogs batted it out with No. 6 Amherst College (MA) but came up short in a 3-6 decision.  The top tandem of Etchegaray and Villanueva fired off an 8-5 win to keep Redlands within striking distance after the doubles, but it was not enough.  Etchegaray (7-5, 2-6, 10-2) and Dolan (6-3, 6-4) recorded the only singles victories at Nos. 1 and 6, respectively.

Redlands (8-4, 1-0 SCIAC) welcomes No. 2 Bowdoin College (ME) to Verdieck Courts on Tuesday, March 22, for a 3 p.m. match.