Beach Wins Big West Conference Title
April 25, 2004 PALM DESERT, CA-- Behind the biggest shot of her four-year career, Long Beach State senior Kelly Chan rocketed a cross-court backhand past Tiffany Chang giving Chan a 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 win and securing a 4-2 victory for the 49ers in the championship match of the 2004 Big West Conference Women's Tennis Championships at the Indian Wells Tennis Gardens in Palm Desert. With the win the No. 63-ranked 49ers improve to 18-8 overall and receive the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. UC Irvine ended its season at 15-8.
In one of the most tightly contested matches all season long, it came down to three singles matches, which all went three sets. Chan powered through her first set at No. 2 singles, winning 7-5, before Chang came back to win easily in set two, 6-1. Trailing 4-2 in the third set, Chan then bounced back to win the final four games and claim the victory, 6-4.
"I just knew I had to do it for the team," said Chan after the match. "It was now or never. I've never had a bigger shot in my life. To tell you the truth though, I don't even remember hitting it. I'm so proud of everyone on the team."
Also winning singles matches for the 49ers were Alanah Carroll at No. 3 singles and Emmanuelle Tabatroung at the No. 4 spot. Carroll breezed past Hui Leow 6-0, 6-1, while Tabatruong came away with a tough 6-2, 1-6, 6-2 win over Kristina Boss. While Chan was finishing off Chang, Nicole Bouffler and Anna Bentzer were battling at the No. 1 singles spot. Bentzer won the first set 6-1, Bouffler the second 7-5 and Bentzer was ahead 6-5 in the third before Chan put away the winning point.
"This was an incredible match for the Big West title," said 49er Head Coach Jenny Hilt-Costello who picked up her 101st career win at LBSU. "We were able to take the doubles point, which was a big advantage for us. The singles was going back and forth. Up until Kelly Chan hit that backhand winner, it was anybody's match. Before the match today we talked about how much adversity this team had to go through to get through to this spot. I'm so proud of the way everyone responded."
The 49ers began the day by winning two doubles matches to earn the all-important doubles point. Bouffler and Sandra Rocha won at No. 1 doubles 8-2 over Chang/Leow. At the No. 2 spot, Chan and Carroll held on to defeat Bentzer/Hu, 8-5.
The Big West Championship is the second for the 49ers as they won the 2002 title at Ojai, CA with a 4-2 win over UC Irvine. This was the fourth consecutive Big West title match for Hilt-Costello and the 49ers.
SINGLES
1-Nicole Bouffler (LBSU) vs. Anna Bentzer (UCI), DNF
2-Kelly Chan (LBSU) def. Tiffany Chang (UCI), 7-5, 1-6, 6-4
3-Alanah Carroll (LBSU) def. Hui Leow (UCI), 6-0, 6-1
4-Emmanuelle Tabatruong (LBSU) def. Kristina Boss (UCI), 6-2, 1-6, 6-2
5-Jayme Hu (UCI) def. Sandra Rocha (LBSU), 7-5, 6-4
6-Christie Posner (UCI) def. Claudia Argumedo (LBSU), 6-2, 6-4
DOUBLES
1-Bouffler/Rocha (LBSU) def. Chang/Leow (UCI), 8-2
2-Chan/Carroll (LBSU) def. Bentzer/Hu (UCI), 8-5
3-Katayama/Tabatruong (LBSU) vs. Boss/Posner (UCI), DNF |
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