LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego swept doubles action but Ball State rallied for a 6-1 victory over the host Tritons Wednesday afternoon at Northview Tennis Courts.
 
The loss dropped the Tritons to 2-11 on the season, while Ball State improved to 9-2.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Ball State 6, UC San Diego 1
Records: UC San Diego 2-11; Ball State 9-2
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons swept doubles play to take a 1-0 lead in the match. Paired together for the first time since Feb. 20, freshmen Katelyn Vu and Naomi Nguyen made quick work of their opponents at No. 2, winning 6-1 over Livia Likacs and Hannah Davies. At No. 3, junior Rachel Wagner and freshman Adriana Tabares clinched the doubles point for UC San Diego with a 6-4 win over Elena Malykh and Emily Desai. At first doubles, senior captain Anu Bhadada and sophomore Ella Pachl completed the doubles sweep with a 7-6 (4) win over Amy Kaplan and Emma Peeler.
 
When singles play began, the Cardinals were straight sets winners at the second, fifth, first and third positions. UC San Diego junior Julianna Sabile was up 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 at No. 6 but was forced to retire due to injury.
 
RESULTS
For a complete box score, click here.
 
QUOTABLE
"We really battled today," said UC San Diego head coach Liz LaPlante. "Our doubles tandems really worked well with one another to take that point. In singles play, we fought hard against a very talented team."
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• The doubles tandem of Vu and Nguyen is now 4-2 after Wednesday's win.
• Ball State was last in La Jolla on March 4, 2020 just prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cardinals topped the Division II Tritons that afternoon, 6-1.
• The loss was UC San Diego's seventh straight.

 
UP NEXT
The Tritons are back in action Friday afternoon to take on Penn. First serve vs. the Quakers is scheduled for Noon PT from Northview Tennis Courts.
 
About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 38 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.