FULLERTON, Calif. – The Anteaters fought a tough battle in singles action to force three extra set matches, but fell to Orange County rival Cal State Fullerton, 6-1.
 
The Titans took the doubles point with a 6-3 win at No. 2 and 6-2 score at the No. 1 spot. The duo of Jenna Schlatter and Larissa Teramura were on court three, but their match went unfinished as the point was already clinched.
 
CSUF won three straight singles competitions to win the match. The last three matches to be completed were the ones that went to extra points.
 
Asha Gidwani was the first to close out her three-setter on court two. The sophomore took the 6-2 victory in the first. Likewise, Amanda Perez at No. 3 dropped the first point, but came back and topped her opposition 7-5 to force a deciding set.
 
Haily Huynh truly gutted out her victory at the No. 6 spot for the Anteaters lone point of the contest. The first set went to extra points, close the entire time, and even went beyond the constraints of a normal extra points set. Despite dropping 7-6 (10-8), Huynh used that to fuel herself to a 6-1 second set win and then the deciding 10-3 victory in set three.
 
"Really proud of how Amanda [Perez] fought back from a set down and 4-1," stated head coach Elizabeth Ferris Smith. "She never gave up on the strategy and she had total belief in herself. Jenna [Schlatter] had a tough spill early in the first set but gutted out her match and used all of her tools to keep it close. She was down a set and 4-1 as well but did well to persevere."
 
"Asha [Gidwani] came on really strong but a lot of credit to her opponent for getting the win. Lastly, Haily [Huynh] really showed what she's made of today. She had about a 90 minute plus first set with lots of ups and downs. She lost it but remained coachable and confident. She closed out the second set strong and never looked back. So much heart and poise. I'm very proud of her."
 
DOUBLES
Josie Usereau/Sein Myoung (CSUF) def. Asha Gidwani/Kayla Meraz (UCI) 6-2
Natalie Duffy/Mariia Nikitash (CSUF) def. Carolyna Fowler/Haily Huynh (UCI) 6-3
Milen Gevorgyan/Seha Yu (CSUF) vs. Jenna Schlatter/Larissa Teramura (UCI) 5-2 uf
 
SINGLES DRAWS
Usereau (CSUF) def. Jenna Schlatter (UCI) 6-3, 6-4
Myoung (CSUF) def. Asha Gidwani (UCI) 2-6, 6-2, 10-2
Yu (CSUF) def. Amanda Perez (UCI) 6-3, 5-7, 10-3
Duffy (CSUF) def. Carolyna Fowler (UCI) 6-0, 6-2
Gevorgyan (CSUF) def. Larissa Teramura (UCI) 6-4, 6-1
Haily Huynh (UCI) def. Nikitash (CSUF) 6-7 (8-10), 6-1, 10-3
 
EXHIBITION SINGLES (ONE SET)
Taylor (CSUF) def. Nour Khayat (UCI), 6-0
 
WHAT THE PLAYERS HAD TO SAY
"I am really proud of the way I played today. I have been having difficulty of winning recently so I am happy I was able to turn the match around to close it out. Even though the match did not go our way, everyone fought as hard as they could. We had multiple three setters and close matches. I am glad this is how we closed out the season and we are ready to go to the Big West Championship! Go 'Eaters!" -Haily Huynh
 
"I enjoyed competing with the team for our regular season match! Although the match didn't go the way I wanted, I'm proud of how I constructed each point and struck every ball. I'm especially proud of the way I competed- being out for the past three weeks and being able to play again at this high level, it's such a great feeling. I'm excited to compete hard with the team in our conference tournament next week. Go 'Eaters!!" -Amanda Perez
 
UP NEXT
UC Irvine will face UC Riverside in the play-in match for the Big West Championship this week starting on Wednesday Apr. 24 in San Diego. The contest is slated for 12 p.m.