LA JOLLA, Calif. -- The Azusa Pacific women's tennis team found itself in a familiar position Saturday morning, facing a 2-1 deficit after doubles, but didn't have enough in the tank to mount another comeback less than 16 hours after an emotional victory at Point Loma, falling to No. 19 UC San Diego 6-3.
In doubles, Valeriia Kashina and Jackie Resler picked up where they left off the afternoon before, picking up an 8-3 win at No. 3. However, that was Azusa Pacific's only doubles triumph for the day.
Match Results
The No. 1 doubles match featured two of the nation's top 20 pairs with No. 14 Kyra Scott and Britta Mosser defeating No. 17 Natalie Johnson and Danae Ingwaldson, 8-6. While serving for the set at 7-6, Scott saved three break points before getting the hold that gave the Tritons a 2-1 advantage.
"It's tough opening the season with three tough opponents in the span of four days all on the road," head coach David Goodman said. "Having to fight back from behind just once is tough to do, so to have to do it on such short rest was a big ask."
After struggling with an injury in doubles, junior Lindsey Yeom pulled out a gutsy win at No. 5 singles, beating Noush Nowamooz 6-2, 6-4. Resler also picked up a singles victory, playing at No. 6 as she defeated Shannon Theisen 7-5, 4-6, 11-9. Resler has been a perfect 3-0 in singles during her collegiate debut.
Both of those victories, however, were wrapped up after the Tritons had already clinched the victory with a win from Nava Nowammoz at No. 4 singles over Sierra Troxel, 6-3, 6-4. At No. 2 singles, Jasmine Hosseini defeated Kashina 6-2, 6-2, while Mosser defeated Ingwaldson 6-3, 6-3 at No. 3 singles.
In the No. 1 singles match, Johnson mounted a pair of impressive comebacks before eventually falling to Scott, who is the No. 22 singles player in the nation. Johnson trailed by a set and a double-break before winning five consecutive games to win the second set 6-4. After trailing 5-1 in the match tiebreak, Johnson fought her way back to even the score at 8-8. However, Scott took the final two points to win 6-3, 4-6, 10-8.
The Cougars will be back in action next week in their home opener next Saturday against Vanguard at 11 a.m.
