CHICAGO – The University of Chicago women's tennis team battled Case Western Reserve University down to the final match before dropping a 5-4 decision on Sunday.
The No. 15-ranked Maroons fell to 9-4 and ended their four-match winning streak. The No. 22-ranked Spartans improved to 12-4.
Rain was in the forecast all day Sunday, so the match was moved indoors to XS Tennis. Before beginning the Senior Day match, UChicago recognized its two seniors – Stephanie Lee and Lucy Tang. Over their four years on the team, the Maroons have posted a dual record of 52-33 (.612 winning percentage) with three trips to the NCAA postseason.
The visitors jumped ahead 2-1 following doubles play. UChicago's first team point came from the No. 3 doubles pairing of sophomores Ariana Iranpour and Courtney Warren, who won handily 8-3.
Singles action played out evenly in the morning and early afternoon. CWRU went up 3-1 with a win at the No. 3 spot, but UChicago came back to tie at 3-3 with wins from freshman Rachel Kim at No. 2 (6-1, 6-4) and Iranpour at No. 1 (7-6, 6-3). The team score was tied 4-4 after junior Tiffany Chen pulled through for a three-set win at No. 5 singles (6-0, 5-7, 7-5). It all came down to sixth singles, which also went three sets. However, the Spartans came away with the deciding match to win the contest.
Case 5, UChicago 4
Singles
1. Ariana Iranpour (UC) def. Nithya Kanagasegar (CWR) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
2. Rachel Kim (UC) def. Jessica Liu (CWR) 6-1, 6-4
3. Surya Khadilkar (CWR) def. Lucy Tang (UC) 6-2, 6-2
4. Taylor Sweeney (CWR) def. Kaela Bynoe (UC) 6-3, 6-4
5. Tiffany Chen (UC) def. Michelle Djohan (CWR) 6-0, 5-7, 7-5
6. Sara Zargham (CWR) def. Kat Stevanovich (UC) 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
Doubles
1. Nithya Kanagasegar/Sara Zargham (CWR) def. Rachel Kim/Lucy Tang (UC) 8-6
2. Surya Khadilkar/Michelle Djohan (CWR) def. Tiffany Chen/Stephanie Lee (UC) 9-7
3. Ariana Iranpour/Courtney Warren (UC) def. Jessica Liu/Taylor Sweeney (CWR) 8-3
NEXT MATCHES:
- Friday-Sunday, April 22-24 – UChicago at UAA Championship (Altamonte Springs, Fla.)
