Wednesday, February 1
Long Beach, Calif.
2 p.m.
Long Beach State University
vs
UC Riverside
Photo by: John Fajardo
Beach Tennis Opens Dual Season Against UC Riverside
1/31/2023 10:25:00 AM | Women's Tennis
The Beach and the Highlanders will face off on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Rhodes Tennis Center
Long Beach State (0-0, 0-0 Big West) vs. UC Riverside (1-0, 0-0 Big West)
Wednesday, Feb 1, 2023 • 2 p.m. • Rhodes Tennis Center
Live Stats: Beachlivestats.com
WHAT'S COMING UP:
The Beach hosts the UC Riverside Highlanders Wednesday, February 1 at 2 p.m. to begin their spring 2023 season.
LBSU FALL REVIEW:
Long Beach State recorded a successful fall campaign by competing in five tournaments. At the San Diego State Fall Classic, freshman Hana Becirovic Novak and junior Sarah Medik obtained a pair of titles in their respective top single flights. During Medik's run to her championship matchup she persevered through a grueling three-set match. In Medik's singles flight, she defeated Natalie Duffy of CSUN in a tight match, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 while Becirovic Novak defeated Angela Ho of CSUN. She clinched her championship defeating Angela Ho in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0. Â
At the Long Beach State Fall Invitational, freshman Doga Akyurek displayed an impressive weekend by obtaining two championship crowns in singles and doubles action. In Akyurek's first collegiate finals match, she defeated Sofia Dermenjyan of CSUN, with a score of 6-3, 6-2. As well as joining teammate Peppi Ramstedt to defeat Yamamoto and Teramura of UCI, with a score of 6-2. Akyurek posted a perfect 6-0 record to end an undefeated weekend.Â
Doubles teams shined at the ITA Southwest Regionals. Three duos advanced to round 32. Ramstedt and Medik earned a keen victory in round 64. They battled in a hard-fought match, defeating Carolyna Fowler and Emily Fowler of UCI, with a score of 8-7. Tranberg and Becirovic Novak defeated Big West rivals Camila Garcia and Milena Gevorgyan of Cal State Fullerton in an 8-3 match. Akyurek and Dondonay advanced in their doubles match for the Beach as well and defeated Andreea Velcea and Cecile Morin of San Diego State, with a score of 8-5. Unfortunately, all three duos would fall just short in round 16.
To end the fall season, freshman Hana Becirovic Novak finished with a team-best singles record of 9-5 while sophomore Peppi Ramstedt finished with a team-best doubles record of 10-3.
In overall tournament play, the Beach posted a 53-57 singles record and 23-29 doubles record.
HEAD COACH JENNY HILT-COSTELLO:
With a career coaching mark of 390 victories, Hilt-Costello is on the verge of reaching her 400th career win. With 390 victories, she is in the Top 50 in total wins and winning percentage of all-time. Hilt-Costello currently holds all the Beach Women's Tennis coaching records: single-season wins, career wins, and highest winning percentage (.687).
In 25 seasons at the helm, Hilt-Costello led the Beach to 13 Big West Tournament Championships, nine Big West Regular Season Titles, and 13 NCAA appearance. For her efforts, Hilt-Costello has been named the Big West Conference Coach of the Year a league-record nine times in 2001, 2004-06, 2008-09, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019. In 2004, she was named the West Region Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Wilson/ITA National Coach of the Year award.
UC RIVERSIDE PREVIEW:
UC Riverside ended the 2022 season as the 10th seed in the Big West Tournament. However, UCR recently began their season with a victory against Hope International on Wednesday, January 25. The Highlanders swept Hope International, 4-0, and look to continue their momentum against LBSU. Both teams will compete in their first conference match of the season. Â
ATHLETICS AND ACADEMICS:
Since 2000, Beach Tennis has been repeatedly recognized for classroom success having earned 19 ITA All-Academic Team awards and have captured the Long Beach State High Team Semester GPA award over 20 times. Under Coach Hilt-Costello, all but one student-athlete has earned their degree when completing all four years of eligibility.
TENNIS TRADITION:
The traditional player cheer pre-match and each time the team wins a match point is "Here We Go Beach" followed by all supporters in attendance then cheering the same "Here We Go Beach!"
GET SOCIAL WITH BEACH TENNIS:
Keep up with the Women's Tennis team all season long on social media on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The team handle on both Twitter and Instagram is: @LBSUTennis.
Â
Â
Wednesday, Feb 1, 2023 • 2 p.m. • Rhodes Tennis Center
Live Stats: Beachlivestats.com
WHAT'S COMING UP:
The Beach hosts the UC Riverside Highlanders Wednesday, February 1 at 2 p.m. to begin their spring 2023 season.
LBSU FALL REVIEW:
Long Beach State recorded a successful fall campaign by competing in five tournaments. At the San Diego State Fall Classic, freshman Hana Becirovic Novak and junior Sarah Medik obtained a pair of titles in their respective top single flights. During Medik's run to her championship matchup she persevered through a grueling three-set match. In Medik's singles flight, she defeated Natalie Duffy of CSUN in a tight match, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 while Becirovic Novak defeated Angela Ho of CSUN. She clinched her championship defeating Angela Ho in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0. Â
At the Long Beach State Fall Invitational, freshman Doga Akyurek displayed an impressive weekend by obtaining two championship crowns in singles and doubles action. In Akyurek's first collegiate finals match, she defeated Sofia Dermenjyan of CSUN, with a score of 6-3, 6-2. As well as joining teammate Peppi Ramstedt to defeat Yamamoto and Teramura of UCI, with a score of 6-2. Akyurek posted a perfect 6-0 record to end an undefeated weekend.Â
Doubles teams shined at the ITA Southwest Regionals. Three duos advanced to round 32. Ramstedt and Medik earned a keen victory in round 64. They battled in a hard-fought match, defeating Carolyna Fowler and Emily Fowler of UCI, with a score of 8-7. Tranberg and Becirovic Novak defeated Big West rivals Camila Garcia and Milena Gevorgyan of Cal State Fullerton in an 8-3 match. Akyurek and Dondonay advanced in their doubles match for the Beach as well and defeated Andreea Velcea and Cecile Morin of San Diego State, with a score of 8-5. Unfortunately, all three duos would fall just short in round 16.
To end the fall season, freshman Hana Becirovic Novak finished with a team-best singles record of 9-5 while sophomore Peppi Ramstedt finished with a team-best doubles record of 10-3.
In overall tournament play, the Beach posted a 53-57 singles record and 23-29 doubles record.
HEAD COACH JENNY HILT-COSTELLO:
With a career coaching mark of 390 victories, Hilt-Costello is on the verge of reaching her 400th career win. With 390 victories, she is in the Top 50 in total wins and winning percentage of all-time. Hilt-Costello currently holds all the Beach Women's Tennis coaching records: single-season wins, career wins, and highest winning percentage (.687).
In 25 seasons at the helm, Hilt-Costello led the Beach to 13 Big West Tournament Championships, nine Big West Regular Season Titles, and 13 NCAA appearance. For her efforts, Hilt-Costello has been named the Big West Conference Coach of the Year a league-record nine times in 2001, 2004-06, 2008-09, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2019. In 2004, she was named the West Region Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Wilson/ITA National Coach of the Year award.
UC RIVERSIDE PREVIEW:
UC Riverside ended the 2022 season as the 10th seed in the Big West Tournament. However, UCR recently began their season with a victory against Hope International on Wednesday, January 25. The Highlanders swept Hope International, 4-0, and look to continue their momentum against LBSU. Both teams will compete in their first conference match of the season. Â
ATHLETICS AND ACADEMICS:
Since 2000, Beach Tennis has been repeatedly recognized for classroom success having earned 19 ITA All-Academic Team awards and have captured the Long Beach State High Team Semester GPA award over 20 times. Under Coach Hilt-Costello, all but one student-athlete has earned their degree when completing all four years of eligibility.
TENNIS TRADITION:
The traditional player cheer pre-match and each time the team wins a match point is "Here We Go Beach" followed by all supporters in attendance then cheering the same "Here We Go Beach!"
GET SOCIAL WITH BEACH TENNIS:
Keep up with the Women's Tennis team all season long on social media on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The team handle on both Twitter and Instagram is: @LBSUTennis.
Â
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Long Beach State Tennis Match Point Win Over Brown
Wednesday, March 27
Tennis 2017 Season Preview
Thursday, January 26
60 Seconds at The Beach: Women's Tennis Ebba Unden
Monday, July 18
