LA JOLLA, Calif. – The UC San Diego women's tennis team fell to Long Beach State 6-1, in The Big West opener Saturday afternoon at Northview Tennis Courts. The setback snapped the Tritons' two-match win streak.

The Tritons even their record at 4-4 (0-1 Big West) while Long Beach State remains undefeated thus far at 2-0 overall and 2-0 in conference action.
 
INSIDE THE MATCH
Final Score: UC San Diego 1, Long Beach State 6
Team Records: UC San Diego 4-4; Long Beach State 2-0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The UC San Diego women's tennis team fought hard in their first Big West match of the 2023 season but found a struggle in their singles matches against the Beach.

The Tritons fought hard but only finished off winning one of the three doubles matches. Rachel Wagner and Katelyn Vu took a 6-1 win at No. 3 while Long Beach State was awarded the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 2.
 
Continuing with action in singles, despite a loss in the first completed match at No.3, UC San Diego's Naomi Nguyen took a strong win in two sets at No. 5 against LBSU's Sheena Masuda, 6-2 and 6-4. Kelly Leung at No. 1 and Katelyn Vu at No. 6 both fought hard in three, but unfortunately could not clinch the third set to award the Tritons with any additional points.
 
RESULTS
Doubles

1. Sheena Masuda/Justine Dondonay (LBSU) def. Ella Pachl/Grace Gamal (UCSD), 6-0
2. Peppi Ramstedt/Rhona Cook (LBSU) def. Kelly Leung/Naomi Nguyen (UCSD), 6-2
3. Rachel Wagner/Katelyn Vu (UCSD) def. Mathilde Tranberg/Doga Akyurek (LBSU), 6-1

Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
 
Singles

1. Sara Medik (LBSU) def. Kelly Leung (UCSD), 6-2, 4-6, 11-9
2. Mathilde Tranberg (LBSU) def. Ella Pachl (UCSD), 6-3, 6-2
3. Doga Akyurek (LBSU) def. Grace Gamal (UCSD), 6-2, 6-1
4. Peppi Ramstedt (LBSU) def. Sophie Pearson (UCSD), 6-0, 7-6 (9-7)
5. Naomi Nguyen (UCSD) def. Sheena Masuda (LBSU, 6-2, 6-4
6. Justine Dondonay (LBSU) def. Katelyn Vu (UCSD), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

Order of Finish: 3, 5, 2, 4, 6, 1
 
QUOTABLE
"We knew today would be a challenge, opening Big West play against a strong Long Beach team," said UC San Diego head coach Liz LaPlante. "There were some positive signs including a great win by Naomi at 5, but we know there are plenty of areas to work on."
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• As the Tritons conclude their third match over a span of four days, this match marks the start of Big West season play for the Tritons in the 2023 spring season.
• Sophomore Naomi Nguyen now has a two-match win streak following her win at No. 5 against Sacramento State on Friday.
• Long Beach State won their prior match and remains undefeated following their conference wins over UC Riverside and UC San Diego.

 
UP NEXT
The Tritons continue Big West conference play at the Northview Tennis Courts next Saturday against UC Davis.
 
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.