Long Beach State University
FIU
Beach edged by Florida International
2/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Feb. 7, 2009
Long Beach, Calif. - Long Beach State's first day at the Rhodes Tennis Center had a bittersweet ending as the No. 42 49ers fell to No. 51 Florida International 4-3.
Starting the day with singles due to Florida International's schedule and the nature of the makeup match from Friday's rainout, the Beach picked up an early 2-1 lead, as Lisa Sutton was defeated at No. 6 singles but Rachel Manasse and Anais Dallara each picked up convincing wins. Manasse dispatched Maria Spenceley 6-4, 6-1, while her fellow freshman Dallara beat Maria Paza 6-2, 6-3.
Long Beach State came away with a third singles point as No. 68 Hannah Grady took down Priscilla Castillo in No. 1 singles 7-6, 6-4, but Florida International's Liset Brito recovered to take a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 win over Deborah Armstrong and Megan Jones defeated Julie Luzar 7-5, 6-7, 6-4 in a hard-fought match to force the match into doubles play.
In doubles, Armstrong and Sutton avenged their singles losses with a commanding 8-1 win, but Dallara/Grady and Manasse/Weeks lost their doubles matches, giving the doubles point and the win to Florida International.
Long Beach State will next travel to San Diego State, facing the Aztecs on February 13 on the road. That match is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.
SINGLES
#68 Hannah Grady, LBSU, def. Priscilla Castillo, FIU, 7-6, 6-4
Liset Brito, FIU, def. Deborah Armstrong, LBSU, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
Rachel Manasse, LBSU, def. Maria Spenceley, FIU, 6-4, 6-1
Anais Dallara, LBSU, def. Maria Paza, FIU, 6-2, 6-3
Megan Jones, FIU, def. Julie Luzar, LBSU, 7-5, 6-7, 6-4
Maria Vallasciani, FIU, def. Lisa Sutton, LBSU, 6-2, 6-2
DOUBLES
Brito/Castillo, FIU def. Dallara/Grady, LBSU, 8-3
Armstrong/Sutton, LBSU def. Jones/Spenceley, FIU, 8-1
Paza/Vallasciani, FIU def. Manasse/Weeks, LBSU, 8-5
Players Mentioned
