Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State University
UC San Diego
Long Beach State Opens Big West Championship Run Against UC San Diego
4/20/2026 2:34:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Beach looks to replicate regular-season win and leverage lineup depth in opening-round matchup
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Long Beach State enters the 2026 Big West Women's Tennis Championship with a 12-10 overall record and a 5-4 mark in conference play, positioned as the No. 4 seed in a tightly packed field. The Beach opens postseason play Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego against No. 9 seed UC San Diego (7-15, 2-7 Big West), a familiar opponent that already pushed LBSU to the limit earlier this season.
That prior meeting on February 20 at Rhodes Tennis Center resulted in a narrow 4-3 Long Beach State victory, and it provides a clear blueprint for what this opening-round matchup could look like.
LBSU secured the doubles point behind wins at No. 1 and No. 3. The pairings of Cecilia Costa and Paulina Franco (6-4) and Daisy Carpenter and Diana De Simone (6-0) delivered decisive performances, offsetting a loss at No. 2. That early edge ultimately proved critical in a match that came down to the final singles courts.
In singles, Long Beach State showed depth in the middle and lower part of the lineup. Costa controlled the No. 3 position with a straight-sets win (6-3, 6-2), while Pamela Badillo added another straight-sets victory at No. 5 (6-3, 6-4). Franco clinched the dual at No. 6 in a tightly contested match, winning 6-3, 7-6 (10-8) to secure the fourth point.
UC San Diego's strength came at the top of the lineup, where they swept Nos. 1 and 2 singles in convincing fashion, and also picked up a point at No. 4 via retirement. That split profile highlights the tactical dynamic heading into the rematch: UCSD will likely lean on its top courts, while LBSU's advantage lies in lineup balance and closing ability in the lower flights.
For Long Beach State, the key to advancing will be replicating that formula. Securing the doubles point remains a priority, particularly given how evenly matched the teams are in singles. From there, the Beach will look to its proven contributors in the middle of the lineup, where Costa and Badillo have already demonstrated the ability to control matches against UCSD.
Momentum also matters in a tournament setting. LBSU's 12 wins this season reflect a group that has been tested, and its 5-4 conference record suggests it has already navigated the parity that defines the Big West. With UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly waiting deeper in the bracket, the opening round presents both a challenge and an opportunity to establish rhythm early.
If Long Beach State advances past UC San Diego, the Beach would move into Thursday's quarterfinal round to face the winner of the 5-8 matchup, setting up another tightly contested battle against a familiar Big West opponent. A win there would send LBSU into Friday's semifinals against top-seeded UC Santa Barbara, the defending champion, presenting a major test against one of the conference's most consistent programs. Should the Beach continue its run, the championship match is scheduled for Saturday, where a potential showdown with No. 2 seed Cal Poly or another contender would decide the Big West title and the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Big West Championship Central and Interactive Bracket
Players Mentioned
