LA JOLLA, Calif. – UC San Diego dropped the doubles point and trailed 3-0 in the match before rallying to defeat long Beach State, 4-3, in The Big West opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Northview Tennis Courts. The victory was the Tritons' first-ever over the Beach, and moved UC San Diego into an early tie with Hawai'i atop the conference standings.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: UC San Diego 4, Long Beach State 3
Records: UC San Diego 2-4, 1-0 Big West; Long Beach State 1-2, 0-1 BW
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Long Beach State took an early 1-0 lead by claiming the doubles points with wins at No. 3 and No. 1. The Tritons got off to a strong start thanks to a 6-2 win by Kelly Leung and Adriana Tabares at No. 2, before the Beach took the point thanks to a 6-4 win at No. 3 and a 7-5 triumph on court 1.
 
The Beach went up 3-0 after wins at No. 4 and No. 2 and looked to be heading for a win before UC San Diego put together four straight victories. No. 49 Julia Haynes was a 6-2, 6-2 winner at No. 1 to get the Tritons on the scoreboard. Senior Katelyn Vu, a late addition to the singles lineup, was a 6-3, 6-4 winner at No. 6. That made the score 3-2 LBSU. Meantime, at No. 5, Triton freshman Allison Lian earned her first collegiate win with a 6-3, 6-3 victory at No. 5.
 
With the match tied 3-3, all eyes turned to court three. UC San Diego senior Kelly Leung was a 7-6 (6), 7-5 winner, clinching the Triton victory.
 
QUOTABLE
"I'm so proud of this team and the way we responded. After dropping doubles, we weren't rattled. Taking an early lead at five and six with first set wins – and when Julia wins her first set [on court one] –we're thinking we are in this match," said UC San Diego head coach Sebastian Bader. "Kate and Allison found a way and played through pressure. Allison pulling out her first-ever win in a pressure-packed match…that's gusty. Kelly played her best match in the last two seasons and overall I'm really proud of them!"
 
TRITON TIDBITS

• Including fall play, Haynes improved to 17-4 in her first season as a Triton.
• Vu now has 24 career singles wins. She's the program's all-time Division I singles wins leader.
• Lian's singles win was her first collegiate singles triumph.

UP NEXT
UC San Diego returns to action on Saturday, when the Tritons continue Big West play against UC Davis 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.