April 25, 2024
Warriors Continue to Rise as They Are Crowned Back-to-Back GSAC Champions
What a year it has been for the Westcliff women's tennis team.
The defending GSAC champions went undefeated against their conference opponents for the second consecutive year (13-9, GSAC 6-0).
A few days before the final match, they were also informed that they climbed in the NAIA ranking to No. 10.
It's been an incredible journey so far for this extremely talented group of athletes who have worked hard day in and day out to see their goals come true thus far.
Westcliff came in as the favorite to win the GSAC title this year and they had been preparing all season long for the moment.
Weeks before the GSAC tournament, the Warriors traveled to New Orleans to play against tough schools ahead of the postseason.
"They were seeing high-level of competition every match, so they are feeling confident in their ability to play at a high level when it counts," said assistant coach Michael Longanecker.
In the semifinals, the Warriors faced off against Hope International and got a quick start by winning the doubles point.
Doubles pair No. 1 Anna Ruiz Masip/ Elena Gunfaus Sola were met with some resistance but prevailed winning their match 6-4.
Doubles pair No. 2 Kanon Sorakubo/Emilse Ruiz made quick work of their opponents and won 6-2 to give the Warriors the first point.
In singles, Justina Haver Chang and Elena Gunfaus Sola raced to match point as they won in straight sets without dropping a single game 6-0, 6-0.
Emilse Ruiz carried the momentum from her doubles match and won in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 to set Westcliff up with a meeting against Menlo College in the championship match.
"No one dipped their level down," shared Longanecker of what he saw in the semifinal match. "They maintained a high level and let their opponents play up to them. I'm happy with the level that we are seeing and I think we can see even better tomorrow."
Well, Coach Longanecker was correct because the Warriors brought the heat on Thursday for the championship match.
The Warriors hit the courts a little earlier to warm up properly and get used to the change in conditions from the previous days.
On Thursday, the temperature was a lot cooler and it was noticeably more windy than the first two days of the GSAC Tournament.
Just like in the semifinals, Westcliff sprinted out the gates and was rolling from the very first serve.
Doubles pair No. 2 and No. 3 earned the Warriors the first point.
No. 2 Sorakubo/Ruiz took it 6-1 while No.3 Shayee Sherif/Loïs Tsui won easily 6-0.
We switched into singles mode and the intensity level never wavered or dipped for the Warriors, especially for singles No. 2 Gunfaus Sola who went on to win her match without dropping a game again 6-0, 6-0.
A masterful performance by Gunfaus Sola who once again showed her big serves and elite level of tennis from the baseline with huge down-the-line backhands.
"Elena is very mentally tough in big moments," Longanecker said. "So when the pressure is on, she is incredibly reliable. She's going to make her first serve, the return, and the quality of the ball is going to be high."
With two points left to clinch the match, singles No. 3 Sorakubo followed her fellow Warriors winning in straight sets 6-2, 6-0.
Singles No. 5 Alessia Radu who loves to play from behind the baseline and has extended rallies proved too much for her opponent as she sealed the deal 6-1, 6-1 to give the Warriors their second GSAC Women's Tennis Tournament title.
Head Coach Ross Duncan shared his thoughts on the difference between this current team and last year: "There's no question in the difference is our depth. You know you saw two and three doubles won convincingly and we're strong all the way through."
Now, WU will set its eyes on the NAIA Tennis National Championships that will be held in the Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Alabama.
Last year was the Warriors' debut and they will be looking to make another strong push, this time as the No. 10 team in the nation.
Westcliff has a little over two weeks to recover and prepare for nationals.
But today they can be proud of being crowned the 2024 GSAC champs.