LA JOLLA, Calif. – Host UC San Diego fell to Ball State by a 4-0 score in women's tennis action Tuesday afternoon at Northview Tennis Courts. UC San Diego's third doubles team of senior Rachel Wagner and sophomore Katelyn Vu were 6-2 winners and Triton sophomore Naomi Nguyen was leading in the second set at fifth singles when the Cardinals clinched the match.
 
Ball State's win was the program's ninth consecutive.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UC San Diego 0, Ball State 4
Records: UC San Diego 5-7, Ball State 11-2
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ball State took a 1-0 lead by winning the doubles point. The Cardinals got a 6-3 win at first doubles before Wagner and Vu won again at No. 3. All eyes turned to the second position, where the Cardinals were victorious, 6-3.
 
In singles play, the visitors took a 2-0 lead after a straight sets win at No. 6. The Cardinals clinched the match with wins at No. 1 and No. 2.
 
Despite the setback, Nguyen battled at the fifth position for UC San Diego. She won the first set, 7-6 (6), and led 1-0 in the second set when Ball State earned the win. At the same time, freshman Grace Gamal led 3-2 in the second set at No. 3.
 
RESULTS
Doubles
1. Mariya Polishchuk/Allison Mulville (BSU) def. Ella Pachl/Sophie Pearson (UCSD), 6-3
2. Amy Kaplan/ Annika Planinsek (BSU) def. Kelly Leung/Naomi Nguyen (UCSD), 6-3
3. Rachel Wagner/Katelyn Vu (UCSD) def. Emily Desai/Jessica Braun (BSU), 6-2

Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
 
Singles
1. Mariya Polishchuk (BSU) def. Kelly Leung (UCSD), 6-2, 6-2
2. Amy Kaplan (BSU) def. Ella Pachl (UCSD), 6-2, 6-3
3. Elena Malykh (BSU) vs. Grace Gamal (UCSD), 6-4, 2-3, unfinished
4. Annika Planinsek (BSU) vs. Sophie Pearson (UCSD), 6-2, 4-4, unfinished
5. Naomi Nguyen (UCSD) vs. Emily Desai (BSU), 7-6 (6), 1-0, unfinished
6. Allison Mulville (BSU) def. Katelyn Vu (UCSD), 6-1, 6-2

Order of finish: 6, 1, 2
 
QUOTABLE
"We've shown signs of improvement, but we've got to find a way to develop more consistency," said UC San Diego head coach Liz LaPlante. "The good news is, this is a busy stretch so we'll see if we can make the needed adjustments tomorrow."
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Ball State is now 2-0 against UC San Diego since the Tritons began their transition to Division I three seasons ago.
• Senior Rachel Wagner and sophomore Katelyn Vu are now 8-2 at third doubles. Tuesday marked the duo's fourth consecutive win.
• Tuesday was the first of four matches for UC San Diego this week.

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego is right back in action Wednesday afternoon at Northview Tennis Courts, when the Tritons host Utah State in a non-conference match. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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 began a new era in 2020 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 earned 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 Divisions I and II.