USD would fall behind early after dropping the doubles point to the Aztecs. San Diego surrendered the first match at No. 3, as the first-time pair of Raygada and junior Alexandra Demidova lost to Esther Cadua and Emma Cioffi, 8-3. But the consistent Torero tandem of senior Tammy Kevey and freshman Maja Sujica would pull San Diego even with SDSU on Court 2, notching a win against sisters, Roxanne and Sierra Ellison.
But San Diego State would clinch the doubles point at No. 1, where freshman Juliette Coupez and sophomore Milou Teeling dropped an 8-4 decision to the 76th ranked doubles team of Holly Bagshaw and Julia Trunk.
The Toreros came right back, with three consecutive victories in singles match play. Kevey was the first to finish her match on Court 3, earning her 13th victory of the spring season against Cioffi in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. Then, at No. 2, Kevey's doubles partner, Sujica, would add to the Torero point total by defeating Bagshaw, 6-3, 6-2. To cap the USD run, Coupez would top Trunk on Court 1 with a two set win of identical form, 6-3, 6-3.
SDSU was not about to go quietly however, winning the next two matches at No. 4 and No. 5. Playing in the 4th slot, Teeling would fall to Cadua, 6-2, 6-2. And after a hard-fought battle, Demidova competing on Court 5 would be outlasted by Miliana Yusupov, 6-4, 0-6, 6-2.
With a 3-3 tie weighing heavily on her shoulders, Raygada would not let her teammates go home disappointed after having comeback from an early deficit in uncharacteristic San Diego weather. As both teams crowded around to cheer on their respective teammates and all eyes were fixated on Court 5, Raygada would show true grit, hunkering down after falling in the first set, 2-6, to Roxanne Ellison. With her signature grunt echoing throughout the West Tennis Courts, Marite would take the next set, 6-3, and move in to the deciding set with the advantage. She would ultimately capture the win, putting up a 6-2 mark to secure not only the individual victory but as well the final match win of the `09 regular season for the Toreros .
WCC tournament play will commence this Friday, April 17th at the Barnes Tennis Center and will continue throughout the weekend. Finalized brackets will be announced later this week.
#61 USD 4, #42 SDSU 3
Doubles
1. #76 Bagshaw/Trunk (SDSU) def. Coupez/Teeling (USD), 8-4*
2. Sujica/Kevey (USD) def. Ellison/Ellison (SDSU), 8-4
3. Cadua/Cioffi (SDSU) def. Raygada/Demidova (USD), 8-3
*Clinching match...Order: 3, 2, 1*
SDSU wins doubles point.
Singles
1. Juliette Coupez (USD) def. Julia Trunk (SDSU); 6-3, 6-3
2. Maja Sujica (USD) def. Holly Bagshaw (SDSU); 6-3, 6-2
3. Tammy Kevey (USD) def. Emma Cioffi (SDSU); 6-4, 6-1
4. Esther Cadua (SDSU) def. Milou Teeling (USD); 6-2, 6-2
5. Marite Raygada (USD) def. Roxanne Ellison (SDSU); 2-6, 6-3, 6-2*
6. Milana Yusupov (SDSU) def. Alexandra Demidova (USD); 6-4, 0-6, 6-2
*Deciding match...Order: 3, 2, 1, 4, 6, 5*
USD wins match, 4-3.
Match Records: #61 University of San Diego (11-8 WCC), #42 San Diego State University (15-7 MWC)
