Feb. 23, 2010
SAN DIEGO - Freshman Alicia Aguilar defeated 19th-ranked Alison Ramos in singles action, but No. 65 San Diego State was not able to take advantage of the upset as it fell to 10th-ranked USC, 5-2, at Aztec Tennis Center Tuesday afternoon. With the loss, SDSU falls to 4-4, while the Women of Troy improve to 5-2 on the season.
In doubles, San Diego State gave a valiant effort, but dropped consecutive matches at No. 3 and then at the second position to lose the point. The Aztec duo of Roxanne and Sierra Ellison, however, provided the lone bright spot as they defeated Maria Sanchez and Lyndsay Kinstler, 8-5, at the top of the ladder to snap a three-match losing streak.
Down 1-0 in the match and facing the task of competing against a USC lineup that included three players ranked in the top 51 in the nation, San Diego State went to work looking to climb back into the contest.
No. 31 Danielle Lao gave the Women of Troy a 2-0 cushion after defeating Julia Wais in straight sets at third singles, but Olivia Colman got SDSU on the scoreboard with her decision at No. 6. The junior from Los Angeles stopped a personal three-match slide as she coasted to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Lyndsay Kinstler to cut the Aztecs' deficit to one.
In a battle between two nationally ranked players, USC emerged with the point when it was all said and done as third-ranked Maria Sanchez took down No. 58 Julia Trunk, 6-2, 6-2, at the top of the order.
The Aztecs, however, would not go away thanks to Aguilar's effort at No. 2. The freshman from Mexico dropped the first set to No. 19 Alison Ramos, 6-3, but then stormed back in the second and third sets to claim the 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win to bring SDSU to within one point at 3-2 with matches still in progress at Nos. 4 and 5.
San Diego State found itself in great position to upset USC as both Sierra Ellison at No. 4 and Emma Cioffi at No. 5 were first-set winners. But as each match wore on, the Women of Troy began to pull away starting with No. 51 Valeria Pulido. The USC freshman, who was a 6-3 loser in the first set, rebounded and logged a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Sierra Ellison to clinch the match for the visitors.
Then with the outcome already decided, Cristala Andrews came back from her first-set setback to pocket the 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 win over Cioffi to provide the final margin.
San Diego State will return to the courts on Saturday, Feb. 27, when it plays host to No. 47 Sacramento State. First serve at Aztec Tennis Center is scheduled for noon PT.
No. 10 USC 5, No. 65 San Diego State 2
Aztec Tennis Center (San Diego, Calif.)
Doubles
1. Roxanne Ellison/Sierra Ellison (SDSU) def. Maria Sanchez/Lyndsay Kinstler (USC), 8-5
2. Alison Ramos/Danielle Lao (USC) def. Julia Trunk/Julia Wais (SDSU), 8-4
3. Valeria Pulido/Cristala Andrews (USC) def. Emma Cioffi/Alicia Aguilar (SDSU), 8-6
USC wins doubles point.
Singles
1. No. 3 Maria Sanchez (USC) def. No. 58 Julia Trunk (SDSU), 6-2, 6-2
2. Alicia Aguilar (SDSU) def. No. 19 Alison Ramos (USC), 3-6, 6-1, 6-4
3. No. 31 Danielle Lao (USC) def. Julia Wais (SDSU), 6-2, 6-0
4. No. 51 Valeria Pulido (USC) def. Sierra Ellison (SDSU), 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Cristala Andrews (USC) def. Emma Cioffi (SDSU), 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4
6. Olivia Colman (SDSU) def. Lyndsay Kinstler (USC), 6-2, 6-4
Order of finish
Doubles: 3, 2, 1
Singles: 3, 6, 1, 2, 4*, 5
*clinching match