LA JOLLA, Calif. – For the second straight match, UC San Diego dropped the doubles point but rallied for a 4-3 conference victory – this time over UC Davis – Saturday morning at Northview Tennis Courts. The victory moved the Tritons into sole possession of first place atop The Big West standings at 2-0.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UC San Diego 4, UC Davis 3
Records: UC San Diego 3-4, 2-0 Big West; UC Davis 2-6, 0-1 BW
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC Davis took an early 1-0 lead by claiming the doubles points with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. The Tritons got a victory on court two with seniors Kelly Leung and Adriana Tabares taking a 7-5 decision.
 
When singles play began, the Tritons leveled the match at 1-1 thanks to a quick 6-0, 6-2 win by Tabares at No. 5. UC San Diego took its first lead when freshman Allison Lian won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4. Senior captain Katelyn Vu won at sixth singles, 6-4, 6-1, to give the Tritons a 3-1 lead in the match.
 
The Aggies tied the score at 3-3 thanks to three-set wins on courts two and three. The match's result hung in the balance pending the result at No. 1. Triton captain Julia Haynes clinched the match with her 6-4, 6-2 win.
 
TENNIS MATCH RESULTS
UC San Diego vs. UC Davis
Feb. 15, 2025 at La Jolla, Calif.
(Northview Tennis Courts)
 
UC San Diego 4, UC Davis 3
 
Singles competition
1. Julia Haynes (UCSD) def. Mika Ikemori (UCD), 6-4, 6-2
2. Solia Valentine (UCD) def. Kelly Leung (UCSD), 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
3. Maya Youssef (UCD) def. Grace Gamal (UCSD), 7-5, 0-6, 6-3
4. Allison Lian (UCSD) def. Polina Marakhtanova (UCD), 6-2, 6-2
5. Adriana Tabares (UCSD) def. Kaia Wolfe (UCD), 6-0, 6-2
6. Katelyn Vu (UCSD) def. Penelope Wong (UCD), 6-4, 6-1
 
Doubles competition
1. Daisy Maunupau/Mika Ikemori (UCD) def. Julia Haynes/Naomi Nguyen (UCSD), 6-3
2. Kelly Leung/Adriana Tabares (UCSD) def. Claire Galerkin/Kaia Wolfe (UCD), 7-5
3. Solia Valentine/Polina Marakhtanova (UCD) def. Grace Gamal/Katelyn Vu (UCSD), 7-5
 
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (5,4,6,2,3,1)
 
QUOTABLE
"This was a good, hard-fought win," said UC San Diego head coach Sebastian Bader. "We have to continue to improve at doubles to not have to rely on a singles comeback. But we stayed composed, understanding we could turn this match around. Adriana [Tabares'] quick win gave us momentum. Katelyn [Vu] and Allison [Lian] played well and helped us build a lead. We've got a fun one tomorrow and are looking forward to the challenge."
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• UC San Diego is off to a 2-0 start in Big West play for the first time ever.
• Including fall play, Haynes improved to 18-4 in her first season as a Triton.
• Vu is 4-0 this spring and now has 25 career singles wins. She's the program's all-time Division I singles wins leader.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego concludes its home stand Sunday morning with a non-conference match against Utah at Northview Tennis Courts. First serve is scheduled for 11 a.m. Admission is free, though parking permits are required on the UC San Diego 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.