Friday, May 3
Malibu, Calif.
10 a.m.
Long Beach State University
2
vs
4
California
Photo by: Steven Calista
Women’s Tennis Puts Up Strong Fight But Falls In NCAA First Round
5/3/2019 3:41:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Long Beach State pushed No. 17 Cal but fell 4-2 in a close match.
MALIBU, Calif. – Long Beach State's strong run of play in women's tennis to close the season continued Friday in the postseason against No. 17 Cal, but the Beach came up just short in a 4-2 defeat to the Golden Bears in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
First-team All-Big West doubles pair Wiktoria Rutkowska and Dominique Meyer had a statement win to close out their freshman seasons, taking the top flight match in doubles 6-4 over No. 20 Hana Mraz and Julie Rosenqvist of No. 16 Cal (13-8) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Golden Bears featured three ranked teams in doubles however, and won both matches to snag the doubles point. No. 54 Annie Bright/Jacie Dunk won 6-2 to give Natalia Munoz and Lalita Devarakonda just their fourth loss of the season at No. 2. A back-and-forth match between Carlota Casasampere and Zara Lennon of Long Beach State (17-6) and No. 88 Katerina Stloukalova and Olivia Hauger saw the Beach take a 5-4 lead, but the Bears rallied to win the match and the point 7-5.
Munoz bounced back to earn a point in singles, improving to 28-7 overall on the year as the junior defeated Stloukova 6-4, 6-3. Sophomore Sadaf Sadeghvaziri was also a winner Friday in singles, defeating Mraz 7-5, 6-1 at No. 6 to earn Long Beach State's second point.
Ultimately, Cal's class at the top of the lineup came through for the Bears in the win. No. 41 Rosenqvist earned the second point of the match with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Rutkowska and No. 48 Hauger dropped Emma Bardet in the second flight 6-4, 6-0. Those victories left the Bears just one win away from advancing, which they did when a third ranked singles player, No. 79 Bright was a 6-3, 7-5 winner at No. 4 over Devarakonda to finish out the match.
The Beach closes the 2019 season with a 17-6 overall record after making the program's 13th NCAA Appearances. LBSU is set to return the entirety of the roster for the 2019-20 season.
Singles competition
1. #41 Julia Rosenqvist (CAL) def. Wiktoria Rutkowska (LBSU) 6-1, 6-0
2. #48 Olivia Hauger (CAL) def. Emma Bardet (LBSU) 6-4, 6-0
3. Natalia Munoz (LBSU) def. Katerina Stloukalova (CAL) 6-4, 6-3
4. #79 Anna Bright (CAL) def. Lalita Devarakonda (LBSU) 6-3, 7-5
5. Zara Lennon (LBSU) vs. Maria Smith (CAL) unfinished
6. Sadaf Sadeghvaziri (LBSU) def. Hana Mraz (CAL) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Wiktoria Rutkowska/Dominique Meyer (LBSU) def. #20 Julia Rosenqvist/Hana Mraz (CAL) 6-4
2. #54 Jasie Dunk/Anna Bright (CAL) def. Natalia Munoz/Lalita Devarakonda (LBSU) 6-2
3. #88 Olivia Hauger/Katerina Stloukalova (CAL) def. Carlota Casasampere/Zara Lennon (LBSU) 7-5
First-team All-Big West doubles pair Wiktoria Rutkowska and Dominique Meyer had a statement win to close out their freshman seasons, taking the top flight match in doubles 6-4 over No. 20 Hana Mraz and Julie Rosenqvist of No. 16 Cal (13-8) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Golden Bears featured three ranked teams in doubles however, and won both matches to snag the doubles point. No. 54 Annie Bright/Jacie Dunk won 6-2 to give Natalia Munoz and Lalita Devarakonda just their fourth loss of the season at No. 2. A back-and-forth match between Carlota Casasampere and Zara Lennon of Long Beach State (17-6) and No. 88 Katerina Stloukalova and Olivia Hauger saw the Beach take a 5-4 lead, but the Bears rallied to win the match and the point 7-5.
Munoz bounced back to earn a point in singles, improving to 28-7 overall on the year as the junior defeated Stloukova 6-4, 6-3. Sophomore Sadaf Sadeghvaziri was also a winner Friday in singles, defeating Mraz 7-5, 6-1 at No. 6 to earn Long Beach State's second point.
HERE WE GO BEACH!!
— LBSU Women's Tennis (@LBSUBeachTennis) May 3, 2019
Junior Natalia Munoz finishes off a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 3 singles! #GoBeach pic.twitter.com/d6vaWhnGTt
Ultimately, Cal's class at the top of the lineup came through for the Bears in the win. No. 41 Rosenqvist earned the second point of the match with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Rutkowska and No. 48 Hauger dropped Emma Bardet in the second flight 6-4, 6-0. Those victories left the Bears just one win away from advancing, which they did when a third ranked singles player, No. 79 Bright was a 6-3, 7-5 winner at No. 4 over Devarakonda to finish out the match.
The Beach closes the 2019 season with a 17-6 overall record after making the program's 13th NCAA Appearances. LBSU is set to return the entirety of the roster for the 2019-20 season.
Singles competition
1. #41 Julia Rosenqvist (CAL) def. Wiktoria Rutkowska (LBSU) 6-1, 6-0
2. #48 Olivia Hauger (CAL) def. Emma Bardet (LBSU) 6-4, 6-0
3. Natalia Munoz (LBSU) def. Katerina Stloukalova (CAL) 6-4, 6-3
4. #79 Anna Bright (CAL) def. Lalita Devarakonda (LBSU) 6-3, 7-5
5. Zara Lennon (LBSU) vs. Maria Smith (CAL) unfinished
6. Sadaf Sadeghvaziri (LBSU) def. Hana Mraz (CAL) 7-5, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Wiktoria Rutkowska/Dominique Meyer (LBSU) def. #20 Julia Rosenqvist/Hana Mraz (CAL) 6-4
2. #54 Jasie Dunk/Anna Bright (CAL) def. Natalia Munoz/Lalita Devarakonda (LBSU) 6-2
3. #88 Olivia Hauger/Katerina Stloukalova (CAL) def. Carlota Casasampere/Zara Lennon (LBSU) 7-5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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