CLAREMONT, Calif. – Cal Lutheran women's tennis delivered an early statement, capturing the doubles point against the nation's top-ranked team, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, on Friday afternoon before falling 6-1 in the opening match of SCIAC play.

Facing one of the deepest lineups in the country, the Regals showed no hesitation to start the match. The No. 2 pairing of Evelyn Oltmans and Grace Balasian set the tone with a 7-5 victory, while Kylee Limpias and Anya Rajan followed with another 7-5 win at No. 1 to secure the point.

With the early edge, the Regals carried momentum into singles against a stacked Athenas squad featuring three nationally ranked individuals at the top of the lineup. CMS's Rebecca Kong (No. 2 nationally), Ananya Sriniketh (No. 4), and Shifali Dinesh (No. 23) each showcased their talent, helping the hosts swing control back in singles play.

At No. 5, Anaya Ayanbadejo highlighted the afternoon with a strong effort, pushing her match to a second-set tiebreak after dropping the opening set. She ultimately fell 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), but not before delivering Cal Lu's most competitive singles performance of the day.

CMS secured victories in all six positions to clinch the match, overcoming the Regals' early doubles success.

Cal Lutheran will look to bounce back quickly, returning to action tomorrow, March 28, with a 3 p.m. road match at Chapman.