AZUSA, Calif. - In a match-up featuring two top-20 squads, the UC San Diego women's tennis team was edged, 5-4, by No. 14 Azusa Pacific Saturday at Cougar Tennis Complex.
UCSD (2-3) got out to a 2-1 lead after doubles play, but APU (2-1) came out on top in four of six singles contests to secure the victory.
The first two singles matches to finish went the way of the Tritons, giving them a 4-1 advantage. APU then won the next three, evening it up at 4-4 with just the No. 6 singles tilt remaining to decide the victor.
At No. 6, UCSD freshman Madison Hale dropped the opening set, 6-1, to Jackie Resler, but battled hard to take the second by a score of 7-6. However, Resler cruised to a 6-1 win in the third and deciding set, sealing the victory for the Cougars.
Picking up straight-set singles wins for UC San Diego were Britta Mosser at No. 3 and Alexandra Weil at No. 4. Weil didn't lose a single set against Lilit Vardanyan, winning 6-0 and 6-0.
In the top singles slot, APU's Natalie Johnson, ranked 16th nationally, defeated No. 28 Kyra Scott, 6-3 and 6-1.
UC San Diego won at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. Sixteenth-ranked Mosser and Scott downed Johnson and Lisa Schneider, 8-6, while Ashley Chao and Shannon Theisen procured an 8-4 win against Vardanyan and Kara Hinton.
The Tritons host NCAA Division I opponent UC Davis on Feb. 7 at 11 a.m.
#14 Azusa Pacific 5, #18 UC San Diego 4
Feb. 6, 2016 at Azusa, CA (Cougar Tennis Complex)
Singles competition
1. #16 Natalie Johnson (APU) def. #28 Kyra Scott (UCSD) 6-3, 6-1
2. Lisa Schneider (APU) def. Jasmine Hosseini (UCSD) 6-3, 6-4
3. Britta Mosser (UCSD) def. Valeriia Kashina (APU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Alexandra Weil (UCSD) def. Lilit Vardanyan (APU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Kara Hinton (APU) def. Ashley Chao (UCSD) 7-6 (10-8), 6-1
6. Jackie Resler (APU) def. Madison Hale (UCSD) 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #16 Kyra Scott/Britta Mosser (UCSD) def. Natalie Johnson/Lisa Schneider (APU) 8-6
2. Ashley Chao/Shannon Theisen (UCSD) def. Lilit Vardanyan/Kara Hinton (APU) 8-4
3. Valeriia Kashina/Jackie Resler (APU) def. Madison Hale/Alexandra Weil (UCSD) 8-3
Match Notes
UC San Diego 2-3; National ranking #18; Regional ranking #5
Azusa Pacific 2-1; National ranking #14; Regional ranking #3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,3,1,5,2,6)
T-5:16 A-70
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