THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - At the Poulson Tennis Center today the Cal Lutheran women's tennis team hosted Bates (Me.) in the final non-conference tune-up before opening league play. It was the visiting Bobcats who earned a 7-2 victory over the Regals in their season opener away from the cold and snow of the Northeast.

Though the decision was determined by the time the final match concluded, the No. 2 singles showdown was the most exciting of the day.

On the court with the teams cheering for their respective teammate Rebecca Gold defeated Lucy Brenner, 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 (11-9), as the two battled into the evening hours. Brenner opened with win before Gold stormed back to snag the second set, 6-4, and force a third set tie-breaker.

Earlier in the day, No. 3 doubles was the first set to conclude in the front end of the match where Kari Ayres and Becky Drake gave Brennan and Emma Blakeley a run for their money before the Bates duo stole the first team point with an 8-5 win.

CLU quickly evened the team score at one apiece with an 8-5 victory from and animated Shelby Kubota and Dana Raugust on court No. 2.

In another tie-breaker, the No. 1 Regals duo of Gold and Sarah Baker fell 9-8 (7-2) as Bates took an early lead in the team standings. Baker and Gold lead at the beginning of the match, but the Bates tandem found a rhythm midway through and stole set.

Singles competition went Bates' way on five of six courts.

Katie Carroll also competed for CLU today.

Cal Lutheran (1-2) will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 21 when the Regals travel to La Verne to face the Leopards in their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opener. First serve is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

Box Score: BATES 7, CLU 2
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