SURPRISE, Ariz. – It is tough playing with a slim lead. It can be made even tougher during postseason play.

This was the situation the Azusa Pacific women's tennis squad found themselves in as they dropped a 5-3 decision to Cal State L.A. on Thursday afternoon in a PacWest tournament first round contest.

Match Results

With the loss, the Cougars move to the consolation draw where they will play Holy Names on Friday at 2 p.m. It was the third match-up between Cal State L.A. and the Cougars this season, all occurring with the last three weeks, with the Golden Eagles winning twice.

Azusa Pacific won two of three doubles matches to seemingly take control of the team match. Despite dropping the No. 3 doubles match, the Cougars posted hard fought wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 slots. Valeriia Kashina and Jackie Resler walked off the court with an 8-4 triumph to tie the team match at 1-1. At the top doubles match Natalie Johnson and Danae Ingwaldson prevailed in 9-8.  

Ingwaldson kept the momentum rolling with her seventh straight singles win. The senior posted a 6-2, 6-2 victory at the No. 4 position to give the Cougars a solid 3-1 lead.

However, Cal State L.A. started coming off the courts with singles wins. Alexandra Makashov's 6-3, 6-2 win at the fifth slot was the Golden Eagles first singles win. Then Victoria Vo won 6-2, 6-3 at the last singles spot to tie the team match at 3-3.

In a match-up between nationally ranked singles players, the 40th ranked Nozomi Matsuoka won 6-1, 6-4 against 17th ranked Natalie Johnson. Elizaveta Sokolova rallied from a first set defeat to clinch the team match with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory at the third singles position. 

The No. 2 singles match-up between Kashina and Sonia Landeros went unfinished since Cal State L.A. claimed five team points. 

The match took just over four hours to complete.