SAN DIEGO – No. 53 San Diego State women’s tennis clinched a share of the Mountain West regular season championship on Friday after sweeping Grand Canyon 4-0 at the Aztec Tennis Center. It is the second consecutive conference championship for the Aztecs and the first under Head Coach Nicolas Vinel.
The Aztecs finish the regular season with an 18-3 overall record and 10-1 in the league, giving them the most conference wins in program history.
The team started the day off strong in doubles competition, taking the top two courts to earn the first point of the match. Jo-Yee Chan and Vessa Turley first defeated Bella Crossman and Dania Deaifi 6-2 on court one before Jayna Clemens and Ninon Martinache clinched the point with a 6-4 win over Gala Arangio and Karina Hofbauer on court two. Gloria Alogo and Liisa Varul were all tied up at 5-5 against Amalia Suciu and Hams Metwally when the match was called.
The Aztecs got off to a quick start in singles, with Teja Tirunelveli earning the first victory on court five after cruising to a 6-0, 6-2 win over Deaifi. Vesa Gjinaj then extended San Diego State’s lead, taking down Suciu 6-4, 6-1 on court six.
On her senior day, Chan was the clincher for the Aztecs, sealing the win and capturing a conference championship with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) victory over Crossman on the top court.
Alogo led Arangio 6-4, 4-3 in the second spot, while Clemens had a 7-6 (7-3), 3-0 advantage over Metwally on court four and Martinache was behind 2-6, 6-1, 2-1 against Hofbauer on the third court when the match was called.
Next up, the Aztecs will head to Las Vegas as the No. 1 seed in the Mountain West Championships, where they will take on the winner between No. 8 Wyoming and No. 9 New Mexico on Thursday.
Doubles
1. Jo-Yee Chan/Vessa Turley (SDSU) def. Bella Crossman/Dania Deaifi (GCU) 6-2
2. Jayna Clemens/Ninon Martinache (SDSU) def. Gala Arangio/Karina Hofbauer (GCU) 6-4
3. Gloria Alogo/Liisa Varul (SDSU) vs. Amalia Suciu/Hams Metwally (GCU) DNF 5-5
Singles
1. Jo-Yee Chan (SDSU) def. Bella Crossman (GCU) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
2. Gloria Alogo (SDSU) vs. Gala Arangio (GCU) DNF 6-4, 4-3
3. Karina Hofbauer (GCU) vs. Ninon Martinache (SDSU) DNF 2-6, 6-1, 2-1
4. Jayna Clemens (SDSU) vs. Hams Metwally (GCU) DNF 7-6 (7-3), 3-0
5. Teja Tirunelveli (SDSU) def. Dania Deaifi (GCU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Vesa Gjinaj (SDSU) def. Amalia Suciu (GCU) 6-4, 6-1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,6,1)