March 24, 2009

San Diego, Calif. - Freshman Marite Raygada earned her 13th win of the 2009 spring season Tuesday afternoon, but it wouldn't be enough to help secure a match win, as the USD Women's Tennis team fell to the ITA 8th ranked USC Trojans, 5-2.

The Trojans lineup which features five ITA Top-75 singles players proved to be too much for San Diego to successfully handle, as six of the nine matches played on the day were decided in USC's favor.

The Toreros would kick off the match with a promising victory at No. 2 doubles, when senior Tammy Kevey and freshman Maja Sujica downed 53rd ranked pair, Sarah Fansler and Lyndsay Kinstler, 8-3. But San Diego would eventually with much reluctance surrender the all important doubles point to USC, dropping both matches at No. 1 and No. 3.

USC would go on to win three straight in singles to earn the necessary three points for the clinch. At No. 2, junior Samantha Mouly fell to #26 Amanda Fink, 6-0, 6-1. Junior Alexandra Demidova would then lose to Leyla Entekhabi on Court 5 in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0. For the win, #25 Sarah Fansler powered past freshman Juliette Coupez, 6-3, 7-6, playing in the No. 1 slot.

Following USC's clinching victory, the Toreros would not go quietly, securing the final two points at No. 4 and No. 6. Kevey earned her second win of the day, defeating #58 Gabriela Niculescu on Court 4. In the day's concluding match, the ever consistent Raygada moved her singles record to a perfect 13-0 by capturing a tough match win against Lyndsay Kinstler in three sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

The Toreros will be in hot pursuit of their 10th win of the season when they return to dual match play Thursday, Mar. 26th at 1:30 p.m. PT to face Boise State.

#51 University of San Diego v. #8 University of Southern California
USD West Tennis Court - San Diego, Calif.

Doubles
1. Niculescu-Fink (USC) df. Coupez-Mouly; 8-2
2. Kevey-Sujica (USD) df. #53 Fansler-Kinstler; 8-3
3. Sanchez-Ramos (USC) df. Raygada-Perl; 8-3
*Deciding match...Order of finish: 2, 1, 3*.