LOS ANGELES, Calif --- The Brandeis women's tennis team opened its annual February break trip to California with a win over another nationally-ranked team today as the #19 Judges swept #40 CalTech, 9-0. The Judges improve to 2-0 on the season, while the Beavers fall to 1-3.
Brandeis opened with a convincing doubles sweep. Juniors Keren Khromchenko (Manalapan, N.J./ Allied Academy of Health and Science) and Michele Lehat (Great Neck , N.Y. / John L. Miller Great Neck North) opened the scoring with an 8-2 win at No. 3, while the Judges won the top two spots by identical 8-3 scores.
In singles action, the Judges continued their roll in the first three matches finished, dropping three games across the three matches. Junior Olivia Leavitt (Falmouth, Maine/Falmouth) won all 12 games at No. 4, 6-0, 6-0, while rookie Lauren Bertsch (Middletown, R.I. / LaSalle Academy) earned the clinching point at No. 5, 6-0, 6-1. Khromchenko finished off the early blitz at No. 3, 6-1, 6-1.
Rookie Rachel Zubrinsky (Waxhaw, N.C. / Marvin Ridge) earned a 7-5, 6-2, win at No. 6 in the second wave of matches to conclude. The Judges wrapped the win with a pair of three-set wins in super tiebreakers in the third. Senior Haley Cohen (Cherry Hill, N.J./Laurel Springs Prep) came from a set down at No. 2, 2-6, 6-0, 10-8, while sophomore Sabrina Ross Neergaard (Port Orchard, Wash./Laurel Springs Prep) hung on at No. 1, 7-5, 2-6, 10-7, to complete the sweep.
The Judges returned to action on Wednesday afternoon with a match against Cal Lutheran University at 4:00 PM Eastern (1:00 Pacific) in their only match of the trip against an unranked foe.