Long Beach State University
Pacific
Tennis advances to Big West Championship match
4/30/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 30, 2011
Indian Wells, Calif. - No. 39 Long Beach State had a clutch performance from junior Anais Dallara to clinch a victory in the Big West Tournament semifinals as the 49ers defeated Pacific 4-1 today. With the win, Long Beach State has now been to the Big West finals 11 straight seasons.
In doubles, Long Beach State (19-5) earned a quick win for the second day in a row. Jaklin Alawi and Rachel Manasse defeated Eslami/Irvin 8-1, and Sarah Cantlay and Julie Luzar were winners at No. 3 doubles over Gumenyuk/Te by the same margin.
In singles, the 49ers faced a tough break as Klaudia Malenovska was forced to withdraw against Julia Hansen, evening up the match score at 1-1 as Pacific (9-12) earned their first point. Alawi put the 49ers back in the lead with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Susan Te at No. 5 singles, and Cantlay brought the 49ers within on match of the win after beating Kateryna Nezhura 6-3, 6-0.
Needing one more win to advance in the tournament, Anais Dallara earned a measure of revenge against Jennifer Widjaja as the junior won 6-4, 7-6 (5) to avenge a loss in the regular-season finale and becoming the only player other than Hannah Grady to defeat Widjaja in conference play.
Long Beach State awaits the winner of the other semifinal match, (6) No. 59 UC Irvine. The two will play tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
DOUBLES
Dallara/Malenovska, LBSU vs. Hansen/Widjaja, PAC - DNF
Alawi/Manasse, LBSU def. Eslami/Irvin, PAC 8-1
Cantlay/Luzar, LBSU def. Gumenyuk/Te, PAC 8-1
SINGLES
Anais Dallara, LBSU def. Jennifer Widjaja, PAC, 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Julia Hansen, PAC def. Klaudia Malenovska, LBSU 2-2 (WD)
Deborah Armstrong, LBSU vs. Olga Gumenyuk, PAC - DNF
Rachel Manasse, LBSU vs. Shabby Eslami, PAC - DNF
Jaklin Alawi, LBSU def. Susan Te, PAC 6-2, 6-2
Sarah Cantlay, LBSU def. Kateryna Nezhura, PAC 6-3, 6-0
Players Mentioned
