REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Tennis team battled in the heat Friday afternoon falling 4-1 to No. 17 Azusa Pacific University inside the Verdieck Tennis Center.

The Bulldogs were off to a rocky start in doubles. Within 18 minutes, the No. 3 team of Sophia Truong (Arleta, CA) and Vrishitha Kumar (Mumbai, India) fell in their set 6-0. However, the No.1 team of Maegan Deng (Torrance, CA) and Lindsey Whelan (Mercer Island, WA) came back with a strong 6-2 win. So, the decisive doubles point came down to No. 2 Hadley Allaria (Kirkwood, MO) and Maisy Reynoso (El Paso, TX) who battled the set out before falling 7-5. This put the Cougars up 1-0, winning the doubles point before heading into singles.

The match was played to "clinch," or the first team to reach four points first. This meant that the Cougars needed three more wins in singles to take the match.  Deng though put a pause to this feat at the top spot, cruising through her match 6-2, 6-0 and putting the Bulldogs on the board 1-1.
The Cougars did get the next three points though at No. 2 with Whelan falling 6-0, 6-4, then at No. 4 as Kumar dropped in straight sets 6-3,6-1, and then at No. 5 with Allaria totaling five games in a 6-4, 6-1 loss.

As time was the main factor for a clinch, this left two singles matches unfinished.  Reynoso at No. 3 was on a comeback being up in the second set when time was called, stopping at 0-6, 5-4. Truong at No. 6 was also making her way through her match having won the first set and was up in the second, stopping at 6-4, 3-0.

Redlands returns to the court Tuesday, March 3 when they host Division I Oakland University beginning at 4:00pm.