SAN DIEGO - A battle with No. 22 USC all came down to the third set on court six, but the Aztecs' hard-fought battle with the nationally-ranked Trojans came up just short as SDSU fell 4-3 Friday night at Aztec Tennis Center.
SDSU started the day strong, capturing the doubles point over the No. 22-ranked team in the nation with victories on court two and three. Junior Tamara Arnold and freshman Julia Jordan dominated the Trojan's second-seeded duo of Payton Saca and Constance Branstine 6-1, while juniors Nnena Nadozie and Abbie Mulbarger earned a 6-4 victory over Estella Jaeger and Danielle Wilson.
Freshman Cècile Morin added the Aztecs' second point with a 6-4, 6-3 decision over USC's Constance Brastin. Second-seeded Arnold came back from a first-set defeat to ultimately win her battle with Eryn Cayetano 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-1.
Nadozie saw her first singles loss of the season, fighting hard but ultimately falling to the ITA/Oracle No. 25-ranked Angela Kulikov 6-2, 6-1. Junior Alicia Melosch dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision to the Trojan's Danielle Wilson, while Jordan fought tooth and nail with USC's Sydney Van Alphan but could not overcome her first-set defeat and fell 5-7, 7-5, 6-1.
The deciding match on court six saw sophomore Agustina Rimoldi Godoy come back from a first-set 4-6 loss to best USC's Estella Jaeger in the second by the same score. After Jaeger had secured a 3-0 lead in the third set, Rimoldi came back with a point to put the set score at 3-1. Both women would fight back and forth to add points to the board before Jaeger sealed the deal to give USC the dual victory.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs hit the road for the second time this season when they travel to Berkeley, Calif. Feb. 28 to take on the California Golden Bears. Match play is set to begin at noon.
University of Southern Calif. vs San Diego State University
2/21/2020 at Aztec Tennis Center
#22 University of Southern Calif. 4, San Diego State University 3
Singles Competition
1. Angela Kulikov (USC) def. Nnena Nadozie (SDSU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Tamara Arnold (SDSU) def. Eryn Cayetano (USC) 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-1
3. Danielle Wilson (USC) def. Alicia Melosch (SDSU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Sydney Van Alphan (USC) def. Julia Jordan (SDSU) 7-5, 5-7, 6-1
5. Cecile Morin (SDSU) def. Constance Branstine (USC) 6-4, 6-3
6. Estella Jaeger (USC) def. Agustina Rimoldi (SDSU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Eryn Cayetano/Angela Kulikov (USC) def. Mia Smith/Alicia Melosch (SDSU) 6-4
2. Tamara Arnold/Julia Jordan (SDSU) def. Payton Saca/Constance Branstine (USC) 6-1
3. Abbie Mulbarger/Nnena Nadozie (SDSU) def. Estella Jaeger/Danielle Wilson (USC) 6-4
Match Notes:
University of Southern Calif. 5-2; National ranking #22
San Diego State University 4-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,1,3,4,2,6)
Time- 4 hrs