Long Beach State University
USC
49ers Drop Opener Against USC
1/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 28, 2009
Los Angeles, Calif. - Long Beach State was unable to stop a slew of ranked players as USC dropped the 49ers 7-0 on the road. The 49ers will next travel to Cal for a pair of matches and then host their home opener in the new Rhodes Tennis Center on Feb. 6.
Holding senior Hannah Grady out of doubles, the 49ers put their remaining six players on the court against USC, and the rankings held as no. 31 Fink and Niculescu of USC defeated the 49er tandem of Lisa Sutton and Deborah Armstong 8-4, while no. 53 Sanchez and Ramos defeated Jessica Weeks and Rachel Manasse.
In singles, Hannah Grady rebounded from a first-set loss to no. 38 Sarah Fansler to battle through a tight second set before eventually falling 7-6 in a 9-7 tiebreaker.
Anais Dallara looked sharp in her first match as a 49er. The French freshman, facing no. 67 Gabriela Niculescu worked the opening set to 6-4 before and sent the second set to 7-5, but ultimately lost.
With the 7-0 loss, the 49ers drop to 0-1 on the year. Long Beach State will stay on the road this weekend, travelling to Cal to play the Golden Bears Saturday and then another match on Sunday.
Doubles
#31 Fink/Niculescu (USC) def. Sutton/Armstrong (LBSU), 8-4
#53 Sanchez/Ramos (USC) def. Weeks/Manasse (LBSU), 8-4
Fansler/Kinstler (USC) def. Luzar/Dallara (LBSU), 8-5
Singles
#38 Sarah Fansler (USC) def. #68 Hannah Grady (LBSU), 6-1, 7-6 (9-7)
#22 Maria Sanchez (USC) def. Deborah Armstrong (LBSU), 6-1, 6-1
#16 Amanda Fink (USC) def. Rachel Manasse (LBSU), 6-4, 6-0
#67 Gabriela Niculescu (USC) def. Anais Dallara (LBSU), 6-4, 7-5
#36 Alison Ramos (USC) def. Julie Luzar, (LBSU), 6-1, 6-3
Leyla Entekhabi (USC) def. Lisa Sutton (LBSU), 6-0, 6-1
Players Mentioned
