SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State women's tennis team played for the third time in five days at the Aztec Tennis Center on Sunday against the No. 14-ranked California Golden Bears. Riding a five-match winning streak and coming off consecutive 7-0 victories, SDSU carried significant momentum into the matchup with one of the nation's top teams. The doubles point came down to the wire, with California eking it out to gain a 1-0 lead. The Aztecs won two singles matches and were a point away from a third while losing a player to injury on another court in a 5-2 defeat.
The Golden Bears improve to 4-2 and drop SDSU to 5-2.
In doubles, Andreea Velcea and Andjela Skrobonja paired up on the second court. They faced Jessica Alsola and Valentina Ivanov and earned a 6-3 victory. Gloria Alogo and Zoe Olmos fell to Berta Passola Folch and Tiziana-Marie Schomburg by the same score on the third court. The doubles point came down to the top court, where Yasmine Kabbaj and Myah Petchey played against the No. 15-ranked duo of Mao Mushika and Hannah Viller Moeller. San Diego State led five games to three and was on the verge of claiming the doubles point when a controversial in/out decision went in California's favor. The play shifted momentum back to the Golden Bears, who forced a tiebreaker, which they won 7-3 to earn the doubles point.
In singles, Skrobonja knocked off No. 51 Ivanov in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3.
On the top court, Kabbaj went up against No. 21 Viller Moeller. She was bested 6-4 in the first set but bounced back to take the second 7-5 and force a deciding tiebreaker. After dropping the first point, Kabbaj won the next six to take a commanding lead. She held on to win 10-4.
Facing Mushika on the third court, Petchey fell 6-4 in the first set. In the opening game of the second, she went down with an injury and was forced to retire from her match, giving the point to the Golden Bears.
Playing on court No. 6, Olmos went up against Schomburg. She was defeated 6-4 in the first set before taking the second 6-2 to even things up. Olmos took a 5-4 lead in the deciding set, but Schomburg forced a tiebreaker. Playing to seven, Olmos jumped ahead by winning the first four points. The next few went back-and-forth, ending with Olmos having a 6-3 lead and being a point away from victory. However, she could not close out the Golden Bear and fell 8-6.
Alogo played on the fourth court against No. 105 Passola Folch. She was dropped in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.
Velcea dueled No. 71 Lan Mi on court No. 5. She was bested 6-2, 6-2.
Next weekend, San Diego State heads to the Pacific Northwest to play in Seattle against Portland at 1 p.m. on Saturday and No. 22 Washington at noon the following day.
California 5, San Diego State 2
Aztec Tennis Center – San Diego, Calif.
February 18, 2024
Singles Competition
1. Yasmine Kabbaj (SDSU) def. No. 21 Hannah Viller Moeller (Cal) 4-6, 7-5, 10-4
2. Andjela Skrobonja (SDSU) def. No. 51 Valentina Ivanov (Cal) 6-2, 6-3
3. Mao Mushika (Cal) def. Myah Petchey (SDSU) 6-4, Ret. (Inj.)
4. No. 105 Berta Passola Folch (Cal) def. Gloria Alogo (SDSU) 6-2, 6-2
5. No. 71 Lan Mi (Cal) def. Andreea Velcea (SDSU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Tiziana-Marie Schomburg (Cal) def. Zoe Olmos (SDSU) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (8-6)
Doubles Competition
1. No. 15 Mao Mushika/Hannah Viller Moeller (Cal) def. Yasmine Kabbaj/Myah Petchey (SDSU) 7-6 (7-3)
2. Andjela Skrobonja/Andreea Velcea (SDSU) def. Jessica Alsola/Valentina Ivanov (Cal) 6-3
3. Berta Passola Folch/Tiziana-Marie Schomburg (Cal) def. Gloria Alogo/Zoe Olmos (SDSU) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,2,4,5,1,6)