LAS VEGAS – San Diego State women’s tennis captured its third Mountain West Tournament Championship and punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament after taking down UNLV 4-1 on Saturday at the Darling Tennis Center in Las Vegas. The Aztecs improve to 21-3 on the season and await their draw in tomorrow’s NCAA selection show.
The Aztecs secured the doubles point with wins on courts one and three. After Ninon Martinache and Jayna Clemens fell 6-1 to Eszter Kiz-Czako and Veronika Kliuch on court two, Gloria Alogo and Liisa Varul took down Kaho Oyama and Sofia Sokolvak 6-4 on the third court. The point came down to the top court matchup, which ended in a tiebreaker. Jo-Yee Chan and Vessa Turley came out on top over Hudson Hawkins and Nikol Mircheva by a score of 7-6 (7-2).
The Rebels bounced back in singles competition, putting the next point on the board after Clemens was bested 6-3, 6-2 by Kiz-Czako on court four.
Martinache then took court two for the Scarlet and Black, downing Mircheva 6-4, 6-3. Alogo then put the Aztecs within one after rallying from behind for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory against Hawkins in the third spot.
Vesa Gjinaj was the clincher, earning a 6-3, 6-3 win over Oyama on court five to capture the championship and punch her team’s ticket to the NCAA tournament.
The Aztecs will wait to hear their name called during Sunday’s selection show, which will air at 1:30 p.m. PT on NCAA.com.
Doubles
1. Jo-Yee Chan/Vessa Turley (SDSU) def. Hudson Hawkins/Nikol Mircheva (UNLV) 7-6 (7-2)
2. Eszter Kiz-Czako/Veronika Kliuch (UNLV) def. Ninon Martinache/Jayna Clemens (SDSU) 6-1
3. Gloria Alogo/Liisa Varul (SDSU) def. Kaho Oyama/Sofiia Sokolvak (UNLV) 6-4
Singles
1. Jo-Yee Chan (SDSU) vs. Veronika Kliuch (UNLV) DNF 3-6, 6-1, 3-2
2. Ninon Martinache (SDSU) def. Nikol Mircheva (UNLV) 6-4, 6-3
3. Gloria Alogo (SDSU) def. Hudson Hawkins (UNLV) 4-6, 6-2, 6-0
4. Eszter Kis-Czako (UNLV) def. Jayna Clemens (SDSU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Vesa Gjinaj (SDSU) def. Kaho Oyama (UNLV) 6-3, 6-3
6. Teja Tirunelveli (SDSU) vs. Sofiia Sokolvak (UNLV) 6-4, 4-6, 2-1
Order of Finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,2,3,5)