The women’s tennis team participated in three matches this week, facing up against Holy Names University, Westmont College and Occidental College. While they lost all three matches, they improved on their team score in each consecutive contest.
A First
Biola’s first opponent was Holy Names on Feb. 19. The Hawks swept the Eagles 9-0 in the first time these two teams faced off in team history. Junior Madeline Heer came closest to beating her opponent. Heer played second singles and split the first two sets, only to lose in the 10-point tiebreaker. She finished with a final match score of 5-7, 6-4, 10-7.
Their second match was against Westmont College for the team’s third Golden State Athletic Conference matchup of the season. The Warriors made quick work of the Eagles’ top three singles players, beating them all 6-0, 6-0.
Only Singles
Biola’s only singles came in the fifth singles spot by junior Kelsey Post. Post beat her opponent in three sets with a score of 6-3, 1-6, 6-4. The second win of the match came in third doubles from the duo of sophomore Brooke Sanford and freshman Katie Boesl, who won 8-5. The Eagles lost the match 2-7.
Post won another singles victory for her team against Occidental College, this time in the third spot. She double-bageled her opponent to win her fourth singles match of the season. Her 4-4 record is the highest for Biola.
“I think there are many factors that have helped me grow as a singles player,” Post said. “I have felt and seen dramatic growth in my confidence, composure and knowledge of the game. I'm playing a lot smarter and thus able to close out matches that I couldn't before.”
Doubles
Biola won two more match points in doubles to lose the match 3-6. Post and Heer won in first doubles by a score of 8-4. Boesl and Sanford were promoted to second doubles and won for a second straight match, this time by a score of 8-4.
Stanford currently holds the highest winning percentage on the team for doubles. With various partners, she has upheld a record of 5-2.
“I have been blessed with amazing teammates that no matter who I play with I enjoy it,” Sanford said. “I have learned, especially in doubles, that you have to be very relaxed. This is hard to do, since you are playing with a teammate. You have to trust them to make their shots and you have to trust yourself. But if you and your partner realize that it’s not about winning but about playing your game you tend to play better.”
Next Match
The Eagles’ next match is home against Hope International University on March 1. Biola beat Hope 8-1 on Feb. 16.
