TEMPE, Ariz. – UC San Diego kicked off its fourth Division I season with a tough opener, falling to 25th-ranked Arizona State by a 7-0 score Saturday afternoon at ASU's Whiteman Tennis Center. The Sun Devils won two doubles matches and swept singles play on the way to a win.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: No. 25 Arizona State 7, UC San Diego 0
Records: ASU 2-0; UCSD 0-1
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Arizona State earned the doubles point with a 6-1 win on court two and a 6-0 victory at top doubles. Meantime, on court three, Triton captain Sophie Pearson and junior Naomi Nguyen were engaged in a tight battle with ASU's Emilija Tverijonaite and Marianna Argyrokastr. That match was knotted at 3-3 when the Sun Devils clinched the point.
 
In singles play, ASU clinched the match with victories on courts four, one and five. On six, junior captain Katelyn Vu battled her opponent before eventually dropping the first set, 7-5.
 
TENNIS MATCH RESULTS
No. 25 Arizona State vs. UC San Diego
Jan 13, 2024 at Tempe, Ariz.
(Whiteman Tennis Center)
 
No. 25 Arizona State 7, UC San Diego 0
 
Singles competition
1. Giulia Morlet (ASU) def. Kelly Leung (UCSD), 6-0, 6-0
2. Marianna Argyrokastr (ASU) def. Ella Pachl (UCSD), 6-3, 6-0
3. Emilija Tverijonaite (ASU) def. Naomi Nguyen (UCSD), 6-1, 6-1
4. Rachel Hanford (ASU) def. Grace Gamal (UCSD), 6-1, 6-0
5. Patricija Spaka (ASU) def. Sophie Pearson (UCSD), 6-0, 6-0
6. Ada Piestrzynska (ASU) def. Katelyn Vu (UCSD), 7-5, 6-2
 
Doubles competition
1. Patricija Spaka/Chelsea Fontenel (ASU) def. Ella Pachl/Katelyn Vu (UCSD), 6-0
2.Giulia Morlet/Rachel Hanford (ASU) def. Kelly Leung/Polina Jorniak (UCSD), 6-1
3. Sophie Pearson/Naomi Nguyen (UCSD) vs. Emilija Tverijonaite/Marianna Argyrokastr (ASU), 3-3, uf
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (4,1,5,3,2,6)
 
QUOTABLE
"We knew this was going to be a challenging match against an experienced, talented, and well-coached team," said first year UC San Diego head coach Sebastian Bader. "Having played earlier today, they were sharp from the start while we were a bit timid. As the matches went on, we relaxed and played looser. There are several lessons we can learn from this match and we'll get to work tomorrow to prepare for another tough opponent [Grand Canyon] on Monday."
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• The Tritons are facing the same two teams to start the 2024 season as they did in 2023. After falling to then-No. 19 ASU in 2023, UC San Diego rebounded to upset Grand Canyon the following day.
• Freshman Polina Jorniak made her first appearance as a Triton, teaming with Kelly Leung at second doubles Saturday.
• After two years as an assistant, Sebastian Bader made his head coaching debut in this match.
• ASU played its second match of the day. Earlier Saturday, ASU swept fellow Big West member UC Davis.

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego continues its stay in the Grand Canyon State. After a day off Sunday, the Tritons will play at defending Western Athletic Conference champion Grand Canyon. First serve vs. the 'Lopes is scheduled for 11 am PT/Noon MT on Monday from the FCU campus.
 
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.