Long Beach State University Athletics
Long Beach State Edged By Top-Seeded UC Santa Barbara 4-3 In Big West Semifinals
4/24/2026 2:19:00 PM | Women's Tennis
Beach closes season at 14-11 after tightly contested battle with Gauchos
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Long Beach State saw its postseason run come to a narrow end on Friday afternoon, falling 4-3 to top-seeded UC Santa Barbara in the Big West Conference Championship semifinals at the Barnes Tennis Center.
The Beach finishes the season with a 14-11 overall record and a 5-4 mark in conference play, closing the year with one of its most competitive performances against the Gauchos.
Doubles play set the tone early, as Long Beach State claimed the crucial point with wins on courts one and three. Cecilia Costa and Paulina Franco battled through a tight tiebreak to earn a 7-6 (7-3) victory over Ekua Youri and Caroline Beard, while Daisy Carpenter and Diana De Simone secured a 6-3 decision on court three.
In singles, the match unfolded as a back-and-forth battle that ultimately came down to the final court. UC Santa Barbara picked up straight-set wins at No. 4 and No. 6 to gain momentum, but the Beach responded with key victories from Thea Jagare and Pamela Badillo. Jagare delivered a resilient three-set win at No. 3, 7-5, 6-7, 6-3, while Badillo controlled her match at No. 5 with a 6-2, 6-4 result.
The decisive moments came at the top of the lineup. Costa dropped a competitive 7-5, 6-4 match at No. 1, and despite De Simone forcing a third-set tiebreak at No. 2 after taking the opening set, UCSB's Isabella Wong edged out the clinching point with a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory.
With the win, the Gauchos advanced to the championship match, while Long Beach State exits after pushing the conference's top seed to the brink in a tightly contested semifinal.
The Beach finishes the season with a 14-11 overall record and a 5-4 mark in conference play, closing the year with one of its most competitive performances against the Gauchos.
Doubles play set the tone early, as Long Beach State claimed the crucial point with wins on courts one and three. Cecilia Costa and Paulina Franco battled through a tight tiebreak to earn a 7-6 (7-3) victory over Ekua Youri and Caroline Beard, while Daisy Carpenter and Diana De Simone secured a 6-3 decision on court three.
In singles, the match unfolded as a back-and-forth battle that ultimately came down to the final court. UC Santa Barbara picked up straight-set wins at No. 4 and No. 6 to gain momentum, but the Beach responded with key victories from Thea Jagare and Pamela Badillo. Jagare delivered a resilient three-set win at No. 3, 7-5, 6-7, 6-3, while Badillo controlled her match at No. 5 with a 6-2, 6-4 result.
The decisive moments came at the top of the lineup. Costa dropped a competitive 7-5, 6-4 match at No. 1, and despite De Simone forcing a third-set tiebreak at No. 2 after taking the opening set, UCSB's Isabella Wong edged out the clinching point with a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) victory.
With the win, the Gauchos advanced to the championship match, while Long Beach State exits after pushing the conference's top seed to the brink in a tightly contested semifinal.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ 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
