REDLANDS, Calif. --- No. 11 George Fox picked up its ninth win of 2022 and remains undefeated against NCAA DIII opponents after defeating No. 17 Redlands on the road on Tuesday, Mar. 22.
How It Happened
The Bruins' edge in the match came down to its play on the doubles courts, but the match could have easily gone the Bulldogs' way if not for some gutty performances in singles at the end of the tilt.
Will Leach and Luke Lemaitre were bested, 8-4, on court one, but Rox Rogers and Ryan Olson were able to make up the difference with an 8-6 win at court two, and the tandem of Camden Camacho and Vahag Pashayan won, 8-2, on court three to put Fox in front after doubles.
Leach was able to outduel the Bulldogs' no. 1 with a 7-6, 6-2 win that only took 70 minutes to finish, but the Bulldogs got that point back after Rogers fell 6-4, 6-3 while playing up at court two.
Redlands knotted the match at 3-3 after a win at court five. Camacho played up at no. 5 and battled to a tiebreak loss with a 6-1, 2-6, 4-6 final, and the Bulldogs pulled ahead in the match, 4-3, after a win on court three.
Playing from behind both as a team and as individuals, Pashayan and Olson showed their mental toughness to clinch the match for Fox. Pashayan won his matchup on court four with a 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 final in a little over two and a half hours of action. Everything came down to Olson on court six, and the freshman fought his way out of an early 7-6 hole to force a tiebreak set with a 7-5 win in the second set before clinching the team win with a 6-3 win in the tiebreak.
Coach's Thoughts
"This was a gutsy win against a really difficult nationally ranked opponent," coach Jeff Cero said. "To beat Redlands in their house without Luke in singles was really a show of our heart and passion to play for each other."
What It Means
Fox is now 9-1 on the year, just three wins shy of its 2021 campaign tally, and has multiple wins over ranked DIII foes on its ledger this season.
Up Next
Fox faces Bowdoin College at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps' courts on Wednesday, Mar. 23, at 9:00 am.
