PASADENA, Calif. — The No. 16 Caltech women's tennis team did not lose a set on Saturday as the Beavers cruised to a commanding 9-0 victory over the Whittier College Poets. With the win, Caltech picks up its first conference victory this season and improves to 1-0 in conference matches held at home.
The day began with doubles action, where sophomore
Anika Arora and junior
Emily Zhang earned the 8-4 victory over Whittier's best. On Court 2, sophomore
Yoyo Benchetrit and senior
Nina Solovyeva picked up the win in an 8-3 contest.
Third doubles saw junior
Athena Kolli link up with sophomore
Payal Patel as the pair made quick work of their opponents, 8-1.
With a 3-0 lead at the conclusion of doubles, the Beavers did not let up as singles play began. The team recorded two shutouts on Courts 2 and 6, with Benchetrit earning the 6-0, 6-0 win in second singles and first-year
Anna Szczuka notching the 6-0, 6-0 victory in sixth singles. With their victories, Benchetrit improves to 8-2 on the season while the newcomer improves to 5-1.
On Court 1, Zhang continued her dominant play this season as she picked up a strong 6-1 win in the first set before returning for a 6-0 second set.
Third singles saw Arora take to the court, where she recorded a solid 6-2, 6-1 win. One court over, Solovyeva earned the 6-4, 6-1 victory in fourth singles.
Patel secured the win on Court 5, logging a final set score of 6-0, 6-1.
Head coach
Benay Weintraub was proud of how her team took control of the contest and continued to build momentum as the match progressed. "I am very happy with the team's focus and drive today
— it was exciting to receive our first conference win," said Weintraub. "As the match goes along, our energy rises, and that grit is our identity. No matter who we are playing, we are a team that never gives up."
The Beavers will next face the squad from the University of Redlands in an away match this Friday, Apr. 7 at 3 p.m., before heading on the road again to face Chapman on Saturday, Apr. 8 at 2 p.m. Follow the team on Instagram @caltechwten.
