SAN DIEGO – UC San Diego wrapped up its extended season-opening road trip with a 5-2 setback at San Diego State Tuesday afternoon at Aztec Tennis Center. Things got off to a promising start for the Tritons who took the doubles point, but the Aztecs won five singles courts to seal the come-from-behind win.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: San Diego State 5, UC San Diego 2
Records: SDSU 2-1; UCSD 0-4
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego took the doubles point with wins on courts three and two. On three, captain Sophie Pearson and junior Naomi Nguyen made quick work of the opposition, winning 6-1. On two, junior Kelly Leung and freshman Polina Jorniak were 6-3 winners to clinch the doubles point and give the Tritons a 1-0 lead in the match.
 
In singles play, the Aztecs took the lead with victories on courts two and one. UC San Diego tied things at 2-2 when junior Katelyn Vu won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 6. The Aztecs won on four, three, and five to take the home victory.
 
TENNIS MATCH RESULTS
San Diego State vs. UC San Diego
Jan 30, 2024 at San Diego, Calif.
(Aztec Tennis Center)
 
San Diego State 5, UC San Diego 2
 
Singles competition
1. Yasmine Kabbaj (SDSU) def. Kelly Leung (UCSD), 6-0, 6-1
2. Andjela Skrobonja (SDSU) def. Ella Pachl (UCSD), 6-0, 6-1
3. Myah Petchey (SDSU) def. Grace Gamal (UCSD), 7-5, 6-0
4. Gloria Alogo (SDSU) def. Naomi Nguyen (UCSD), 6-2, 6-2
5. Andreea Velcea (SDSU) def. Sophie Pearson (UCSD), 6-4, 7-5
6. Katelyn Vu (UCSD) def. Zoe Olmos (SDSU), 6-1, 6-3
 
Doubles competition
1. Ella Pachl/Katelyn Vu (UCSD) vs. Yasmine Kabbaj/Andjela Skrobonja (SDSU), 5-4, unfinished
2. Kelly Leung/Polina Jorniak (UCSD) def. Myah Petchey/Andreea Velcea (SDSU), 6-4
3. Sophie Pearson/Naomi Nguyen (UCSD) def. Gloria Alogo/Zoe Olmos (SDSU), 6-1
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,1,6,4,3,5)
 
QUOTABLE
"We knew today would be a challenge, playing a high-level opponent. The team fought hard and we came up just a bit short today," said UC San Diego head coach Sebastian Bader. "We had an impressive start in doubles on all three courts. Sophie and Naomi have been clicking, it was great for Kelly and Polina to get the clinch, and Ella and Katelyn have found their confidence as a team. In singles, we need to be more disciplined in our point construction and continue to get better. We kept the intensity up throughout."
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• The doubles victory was UC San Diego's first of the season.
• The Aztecs moved to 15-0 all-time against the Tritons.
• With her straight-sets win at No. 6, Katelyn Vu earned her 16th career singles win – more than any other Triton in the program's Division I era.

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego is back in action for the team's home opener on Saturday when the Tritons host Division III power Pomona-Pitzer at 11 a.m. The Sagehens are ranked third nationally in the Division III preseason poll.
 
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.