TORONTO - Canadian University Tennis has a new dynasty. For the third time in five years, the Alberta Pandas have captured the Canadian University Tennis Championship, as they defeated the Laval Rouge et Or 4-3 on Saturday afternoon to capture their second-straight national title. 

The Pandas also won in 2017 and 2019, with the 2020 Championship cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 

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First-year Panda Emma Rutherford secured championship point for the Pandas, who won the singles point earlier in the morning, before splitting the singles 3-3 with Laval. 
 

???????????????? ?????????????????? ????@UofAPandaTennis are National Champions! 3rd in the last 5 years! #GreenandGOLD pic.twitter.com/LNRIPTdr44

— UAlberta Golden Bears & Pandas (@BearsandPandas) October 2, 2021

 
Alberta cruised past the Toronto Varsity Blues 5-2 on Friday night in the national semifinal, to earn a spot in the national final on Saturday morning. The win also extends the Pandas team win streak to 14, with the Pandas last loss coming in the 2018 national final. The Pandas have gone 80-18 in singles and doubles matches over the past three years. 

Rutherford (6-3, 6-4) was joined by Alex Jewitt (7-5, 6-4), and Katie Johnson (6-4, 7-6 (8)) who won their singles matches for the Pandas against Laval.  Jena Cheng, Alina Jurca, and Sam Chapman also helped the Pandas capture the doubles point in the morning. 

Rutherford was also named the Championship MVP after going a combined 3-1 in singles and doubles in the semifinal and final. 

The Golden Bears will have a chance for double gold this weekend as well, as their national semifinal against the Western Mustangs is set for Saturday afternoon in Toronto.