UC Irvine
San Diego State
'Eaters Come up Just Short in 4-3 Loss to San Diego State
January 29, 2017 | Women's Tennis
IRVINE, Calif. – The UC Irvine women's tennis team came up just short in a 4-3 loss to San Diego State Sunday afternoon at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
UCI (0-3) fought back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the match but was unable to get the decisive point at No. 1 singles.
The 'Eaters took an early 1-0 lead after claiming the doubles point. At No. 1, freshmen Constance Branstine and Stephanie Nguyen got out to a quick start, winning the first four games before cruising to a 6-2 victory over Jana Buth and Taylor Lederman. The Aztecs would even the playing field at the No. 2 spot where Kennedy Davis/Paola Diaz topped senior Cassidy Branstine and freshman Jacqueline Tsodikova, 6-2. All eyes then turned to court three where UCI was in control as junior Vivien Dvali and sophomore Stephanie Hazell dispatched Berta Acero/Olivia Larsson, 6-1, to clinch the point for the Anteaters.
In singles, SDSU (2-1) went up 2-1 with a pair of straight-set wins at No. 3 and No. 6. The visitors continued to build on that advantage as Davis came from behind for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 triumph over Dvali on court two. Just a couple minutes later, Hazell finished off Berta Acero, 7-5, 6-2, at No. 5. Nguyen followed with a 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0 victory over Olivia Larsson at the No. 4 spot to keep the 'Eaters alive.
With the match tied at 3-3, it all came down to court one where Constance Branstine put up a valiant effort, but ultimately fell to Buth, 5-7, 6-4, 3-6.
UC Irvine will have a nearly two-week layoff before returning to Anteater Tennis Stadium to host San Francisco on Saturday, Feb. 11.
Singles
1. Jana Buth (SDSU) def. Constance Branstine (UCI): 7-5, 4-6, 6-3
2. Kennedy Davis (SDSU) def. Vivien Dvali (UCI): 2-6, 6-2, 6-3
3. Paola Diaz (SDSU) def. Cassidy Branstine (UCI): 6-0, 6-1
4. Stephanie Nguyen (UCI) def. Olivia Larsson (SDSU): 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0
5. Stephanie Hazell (UCI) def. Berta Acero (SDSU): 7-5, 6-2
6. Marina Colvee (SDSU) def. Ashlynn Hall (UCI) 6-0, 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 6, 2, 5, 4, 1*
Doubles
1. Co. Branstine/Nguyen (UCI) def. Buth/Lederman (SDSU): 6-2
2. Davis/Diaz (SDSU) def. Ca. Branstine/Tsodikova (UCI): 6-2
3. Dvali/Hazell (UCI) def. Acero/Larsson (SDSU): 6-1
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3*
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