Long Beach State and UC Irvine will play in the championship match of the Big West Women's Tennis Championship on Sunday, May 2 at 9:00 a.m.

Long Beach State Outlasts Cal Poly, 4-2

Long Beach State is one step away from claiming its seventh consecutive Big West Women's Tennis Tournament title after defeating Cal Poly, 4-2, in semifinal action at Indian Wells Tennis Garden Saturday.

The 49ers denied the Mustangs the doubles point for just the fifth time in 23 spring dual matches, winning at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions.  Suzie Matzenauer and Brittany Blalock captured an 8-5 win at No. 1 for Cal Poly, but the 49ers rebounded at the other two positions.  LBSU clinched the point when Sarah Cantlay and Julie Luzar won 8-5 at No. 3 over Diane Filip and Ashley Pane.

Singles play started out heavily in LBSU's favor.  The 49ers staked themselves to a 3-0 lead as Deborah Armstrong made quick work of Steffi Wong at No. 3, winning 6-1, 6-0.  Rachel Manasse followed with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph at No. 4 against Diane Filip.

But the Mustangs rebounded as Matzenauer got them on the board at No. 2.  She recovered from a first set loss to defeat Anais Dallara 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.  Alexa Lee pulled the Mustangs within a point with her 6-4, 6-4 decision against Anna Jeczmionka.

With the No. 1 court in progress, Long Beach State clinched the match at No. 6 when Cantlay outlasted Jocelyn Davis 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

LBSU improved to 19-5 on the year with the win.  Cal Poly dropped to 16-7 with the loss.

DOUBLES
1. Matzenauer/Blalock (CP) def. Alawi/Manasse (LBSU) - 8-5
2. Dallara/Armstrong (LBSU) def. Wong/Lee (CP) - 8-6
3. Cantlay/Luzar (LBSU) def. Filip/Pane (CP - 8-5

Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3

SINGLES
1. Jaklin Alawi (LBSU) vs. Brittany Blalock (CP) - DNF
2. Suzie Matzenauer (CP) def. Anais Dallara (LBSU) - 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
3. Deborah Armstrong (LBSU) def. Steffi Wong (CP) - 6-1, 6-0
4. Rachel Manasse (LBSU) def. Diane Filip (CP) - 6-1, 6-2
5. Alexa Lee (CP) def. Anna Jeczmionka (LBSU) - 6-4, 6-4
6. Sarah Cantlay (LBSU) def. Jocelyn Davis (CP) - 6-3, 1-6, 6-4

Order of Finish: 3, 4, 2, 5, 6


UC Irvine Wins 4-3 Against UC Santa Barbara

UC Irvine defeated UC Santa Barbara by a 4-3 score in a women's tennis semifinal match Saturday morning.

The Anteaters captured the doubles point to start the match.  Courtney Byron and Kristina Smith pulled out a tight one at No. 2, defeating Jordan Dockendorf and Natalia Lozano 8-6.  The previous matches went to UCI at No. 3 and UCSB at No. 1.

In singles, UCSB tied the match at No. 3 when Tova Hausman defeated Stephanie Hammel 6-1, 6-1.  Byron registered a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 1 against Sofia Novak as the Anteaters retook the lead at 2-1.  The Gauchos evened the score again as Jill Damion knocked off Brooke Bartlett 6-3, 7-5 at No. 4.

UCSB grabbed its first lead of the match, 3-2, getting a 6-0, 7-6 (8) win from Lozano at No. 2 against April Bisharat.

The Anteaters claimed the final two points from the No. 5 and No. 6 positions.  Rebecca Kwan defeated Annabel Gledden 6-0, 6-3 at No. 5 to tie the contest at 3-3.  The clinching point came at No. 6 as Smith won 6-1, 7-5 over Bryanna Ojeda.

UCI improved to 12-10 on the season.  UCSB dropped to 13-11.

DOUBLES
1. Hausman/Ojeda (UCSB) def. Holladay/Kwan (UCI) - 8-3
2. Byron/Smith (UCI) def. Dockendorf/Lozano (UCSB) - 8-6
3. Bartlett/Bisharat (UCI) def. Damion/Onaga (UCSB) - 8-3

Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2

SINGLES
1. Courtney Byron (UCI) def. Sofia Novak (UCSB) - 6-2, 6-3
2. Natalia Lozano (UCSB) def. April Bisharat (UCI) - 6-0, 7-6 (8)
3. Tova Hausman (UCSB) def. Stephanie Hammel (UCI) - 6-1, 6-1
4. Jill Damion (UCSB) def. Brooke Bartlett (UCI) - 6-3, 7-5
5. Rebecca Kwan (UCI) def. Annabel Gledden (UCSB) - 6-0, 6-3
6. Kristina Smith (UCI) def. Bryanna Ojeda (UCSB) - 6-1, 7-5

Order of Finish: 3, 1, 4, 2, 5, 6