Feb. 18, 2016
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego State women's tennis team regained the winning touch on Thursday with a 6-1 triumph over visiting UC Irvine in a non-conference dual match at Aztec Tennis Center. With the victory, the SDSU snaps a four-match losing streak, improving to 3-6 on the season, while the Anteaters slip to 1-5 overall.
The Aztecs got off to a fast start in doubles play when the No. 3 team of Kennedy Davis and Paola Diaz de Regules shut out the UCI duo of Cassidy Branstine and Mazy Watrous, 6-0, while the No. 2 pairing of Isabelle Hoorn and Taylor Lederman faced minimal resistance in a 6-2 conquest over the tandem of Vivien Dvali and Andrea Duva. With the early doubles point securely tucked away, the match on center court pitting SDSU's Jana Buth and Tami Nguyen against the Antereaters' Sarah Gong and Stephanie Hazell was abandoned.
The Aztecs captured five of six encounters in singles play, but it wasn't easy as four matches featured three-set finishes, while the other two were completed via second-set tiebreakers. Nevertheless, SDSU stood up to the challenge, with Hoorn dispatching Duva on the No. 6 court, 6-1, 7-6(4), while Lederman knocked off Branstine shortly thereafter in the fifth position by a score of 6-2, 7-6(6).
Over on court No. 4, Diaz de Regules fell behind against Watrous, 3-6, before storming back to claim the final two sets, 6-3, 6-2, to give the Aztecs the requisite four points to clinch the dual. Moments later, SDSU extended its lead to 6-0 after Buth outlasted Dvali in the No. 2 spot, 6-1, 6-7(9), 7-5, while Davis overcame an early deficit to take down Hazell in another nail-biter at No. 3, 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-4. The Scarlet and Black was denied a shutout when Gong emerged triumphant over the Aztecs' Nguyen at the top of the ladder, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5).
San Diego State will return to the court next week when it travels north to the Bay Area to face the California Golden Bears on Wednesday, Feb. 24, in Berkeley, Calif. Match time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. PT.
San Diego State 6, UC Irvine 1
Aztec Tennis Center--San Diego, Calif.
Feb. 18, 2016
Doubles
1. Jana Buth/Tami Nguyen (SDSU) vs. Sarah Gong/Stephanie Hazell, DNF
2. Isabelle Hoorn/Taylor Lederman (SDSU) def. Vivien Dvali/Andrea Duva, 6-2
3. Kennedy Davis/Paola Diaz de Regules (SDSU) def. Cassidy Branstine/Mazy Watrous, 6-0
Order of finish: 3, 2
SDSU wins doubles point
Singles
1. Sarah Gong (UCI) def. Tami Nguyen, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5)
2. Jana Buth (SDSU) def. Vivien Dvali, 6-1, 6-7(9), 7-5
3. Kennedy Davis (SDSU) def. Stephanie Hazell, 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-4
4. Paola Diaz de Regules (SDSU) def. Mazy Watrous, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
5. Taylor Lederman (SDSU) def. Cassidy Branstine, 6-2, 7-6(6)
6. Isabelle Hoorn (SDSU) def. Andrea Duva, 6-1, 7-6(4)
Order of finish: 6, 5, 4*, 2, 3, 1
*- Match-clinching victory