LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego began a stretch of seven consecutive matches at home on a promising note – winning the doubles point – before ultimately falling to visiting Cal State Fullerton, 4-2, at Northview Tennis Courts Monday afternoon. The Tritons got a singles win at No. 5 from captain Sophie Pearson.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Cal State Fullerton 4, UC San Diego 2
Records: UCSD 2-8 overall, 0-3 Big West; Cal State Fullerton 4-1overall, 1-0 Big West
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC San Diego captured the doubles point for the second time in the last three matches. Pearson and junior Naomi Nguyen were swift 6-2 winners on court three. The other two doubles matches went to tiebreakers. Juniors Kelly Leung and Katelyn Vu came up just short, 7-6 (4), at No. 1. But the Tritons secured doubles with a 7-6 (4) win on court two by senior Ella Pachl and sophomore Grace Gamal.

In singles action, the Titans stormed back to clinch a road win, taking victories on courts 1-4. Pearson earned a 6-2, 6-3 win over Fullerton's Kaytlin Taylor at No. 5 to draw the Tritons closer. On six, Nguyen was up 7-5, 1-1  when it began to rain and, with the match already in hand, play was abandoned.
 
TENNIS MATCH RESULTS
UC San Diego vs. Cal State Fullerton
Feb 19, 2024 at La Jolla, Calif.
(Northview Tennis Courts)
 
Cal State Fullerton 4, UC San Diego 2
 
Singles competition
1. Josie Userau (CSF) def. Kelly Leung (UCSD), 6-0, 6-2
2. Natalie Duffy (CSF) def. Ella Pachl (UCSD), 6-3, 6-3
3. Sein Myoung (CSF) def. Grace Gamal (UCSD), 6-1, 6-1
4. Seha Yu (CSF) def. Katelyn Vu (UCSD), 6-3, 6-3
5. Sophie Pearson (UCSD) def. Kaytlin Taylor (CSF), 6-2, 6-3
6. Naomi Nguyen (UCSD) vs. Mariia Nikitash (CSF), 7-5, 1-1, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. Natalie Duffy/Josie Userau (CSF) def. Kelly Leung/Katelyn Vu (UCSD), 7-6 (4)
2. Grace Gamal/Ella Pachl (UCSD) def. Sein Myoung/Mariia Nikitash (CSF), 7-6 (4)
3. Sophie Pearson/Naomi Nguyen (UCSD) def. Kaytlin Taylor/Seha Yu (CSF), 6-2
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,3,2,4,5)
 
QUOTABLE
"I was proud of how we competed as a group today," said UC San Diego head coach Sebastian Bader. "We really fought hard to earn the doubles point. Unfortunately, that momentum didn't carry over to all of the singles courts. Fullerton's a good team and we knew we'd have our work cut out for us. We've got 10 days until our next match, so we have time to regroup, focus on our studies, and work on areas in need of improvement before next Thursday."
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• UC San Diego's doubles team of Sophie Pearson and Naomi Nguyen improved to 7-1 this year with Monday's win.
• Pearson's win on court five was her third singles win of the season, tying her with Katelyn Vu for team high.
• Cal State Fullerton remained unbeaten against the Tritons as members of The Big West.

 
UP NEXT
UC San Diego resumes its seven-match homestand on Thursday, Feb. 29 when the Tritons host Pacific. First serve is slated for 2:30 p.m. from Northview Tennis Courts. Admission is free, but parking permits are required.
 
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.