LA JOLLA, Calif. – The Tritons finished off preseason strong with a tough 4-3 home win against Sacramento State Friday at Northview Tennis Courts.
The victory improved the Tritons' record to 4-3, while Sacramento State is now 3-2.
INSIDE THE MATCH
Final Score: UC San Diego 4, Sacramento State 3
Team Records: UC San Diego 4-3; Sacramento State 3-2
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tritons fought hard in their final match of preseason, coming together to earn their second home win of the year.
For doubles,
Kelly Leung and
Naomi Nguyen won a tough match at No. 2. But Sacramento State ultimately came away with two doubles wins at No. 1 and No 2.
The singles matches featured several strong performances from the Tritons. Following a swift loss at No. 2, Freshman
Grace Gamal responded with a tight, two-set win over Tsveti Yotova of Sacramento State.
Naomi Nguyen also made quick work of her opposition, earning a 6-0 win in the first set and a 6-2 win in the second.
No. 6 opened with a tough set, with
Katelyn Vu narrowly coming away with a 7-5 win. The Triton Sophomore maintained her strength in the second set, completing her match with a score of 6-3 and tying up the match 3-3.
Last to finish was Senior
Sophie Pearson at No. 4. The first set of this intense match went to Sacramento State Sophomore Weronika Ejsmont. However, Person put up a fight, scoring 4 to Ejsmont's 6. The tables quickly turned in the Tritons' favor, as Pearson secured a 6-1 win in the second set, tying up her singles match. The senior then sealed the deal for the Tritons, finishing the third set 6-2.
RESULTS
Doubles
- Maya Gorbunova/ Tsveti Yotova (Sacramento State) def. Ella Pachl/ Grace Gamal (UCSD), 6-3
- Kelly Leung/ Naomi Nguyen (UCSD) def. Weronika Ejsmont/ Best Lee (Sacramento State), 7-5
- Maddy Ferreros/ Alexis Johnson (Sacramento State) def. Rachel Wagner/ Katelyn Vu (UCSD), 7-5
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
Singles
- Maya Gorbunova (Sacramento State) def. Kelly Leung (UCSD), 1-6, 6-1, 6-3
- Maddy Ferreros (Sacramento State) def. Ella Pachl (UCSD), 6-2, 6-1
- Grace Gamal (UCSD) def. Tsveti Yotova (Sacramento State), 6-4, 6-4
- Sophie Pearson (UCSD) def. Weronika Ejsmont (Sacramento State), 4-6, 6-1, 6-2
- Naomi Nguyen (UCSD) def. Julia Moraes (Sacramento State) 6-0, 6-2
- Katelyn Vu (UCSD) def. Grace McSkimming (Sacramento State) 7-5, 6-3
Order of Finish: 2, 3, 5, 6, 1, 4
QUOTABLE
"This team continues to impress with its resiliency," said UC San Diego head coach Liz LaPlante. "Seemingly, all of our matches have come down to the wire, and I'm so proud of the way the girls refuse to give in. Today it was Sophie's turn to come through in a tough three-set match."
TRITON TIDBITS
- This win matches the Tritons' win total of 4 from the 2022 season and extends their current win streak to 2.
- Kelly Leung and Naomi Nguyen extend their win streak as a doubles team to 2.
- This match marks Sophomore Naomi Nguyen's first singles win of the year.
- Grace Gamal and Sophie Pearson both extend their singles win streaks to 2.
UP NEXT
Conference play begins tomorrow for the Tritons as they round out the weekend with another home match against Long Beach State at noon. All spectators at Northview Tennis Courts receive free admission, although the campus requires parking permits 7 days a week.
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 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 NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.
