FULLERTON, Calif. --- Cal State Fullerton extended its season-opening winning streak to seven matches with a 7-0 sweep over UC Riverside on Saturday afternoon at Titan Tennis Courts in the Titans' Big West Conference opener.
Fullerton (7-0, 1-0 BWC) has opened the season with seven consecutive victories, the best start for the program in its history. UC Riverside falls to 1-3 overall and 0-3 in league play.
The Titans, who have not dropped a doubles point yet this season, started the match by taking the doubles point as each of Fullerton's three teams recorded victories.
The No. 1 team of Camille De Leon and Alexis Valenzuela defeated Karla Dulay and Tracy Van, 6-2, as the pair improved to 4-1 on the season.
Sarah Nuno and Karla Portalatin, now 5-1 in 2017, scored a 6-1 victory over Sara Khattab and Lauren Wolfe at No. 2 doubles, while Masako Makiba and Danielle Pham defeated Natalie Penner and Tamilla Vaksman, 6-2, at the bottom of the order to improve to 5-1 in doubles play.
Valenzuela swept Khattab, 6-0, 6-0, at the top of the lineup to remain undefeated at 6-0 on the year.
At No. 2 in the order, De Leon improved to 5-0 this season with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Van.
Portalatin moved past Wolfe, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 3 in the lineup as the sophomore is now 5-1 in 2017.
Nuno, the reigning Big West Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week, defeated Penner, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 4 in the order as the sophomore is now on a five-match win streak.
At No. 5 in the lineup, Makiba edged Vaksman, 6-3, 6-2, while Pham picked up a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Arabella Valera at the bottom of the order.
The Titans return to action at 11 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 19, hosting Loyola Marymount at Titan Tennis Courts.
Notes: Dating back to 2000, Cal State Fullerton leads the all-time series with UC Riverside, 17-5…in addition, the Titans have won 12 straight matches against the Highlanders…Fullerton has won its last two Big West Conference openers…the Titans are off to their best start in program history at 7-0.
Tennis Match Results
UC Riverside vs Cal State Fullerton
Feb 11, 2017 at Fullerton, Calif.
(Titan Tennis Courts)
Cal State Fullerton 7, UC Riverside 0
Singles competition
1. Alexis Valenzuela (CSF) def. Sara Khattab (UCR) 6-0, 6-0
2. Camille De Leon (CSF) def. Tracy Van (UCR) 6-3, 6-4
3. Karla Portalatin (CSF) def. Lauren Wolfe (UCR) 6-1, 6-0
4. Sarah Nuno (CSF) def. Natalie Penner (UCR) 6-1, 6-1
5. Masako Makiba (CSF) def. Tamilla Vaksman (UCR) 6-3, 6-2
6. Danielle Pham (CSF) def. Arabella Valera (UCR) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Camille De Leon/Alexis Valenzuela (CSF) def. Karla Dulay/Tracy Van (UCR) 6-2
2. Sarah Nuno/Karla Portalatin (CSF) def. Sara Khattab/Lauren Wolfe (UCR) 6-1
3. Masako Makiba/Danielle Pham (CSF) def. Natalie Penner/Tamilla Vaksman (UCR) 6-2
Match Notes:
UC Riverside 1-3, 0-3 BWC
Cal State Fullerton 7-0, 1-0 BWC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (4,1,3,5,6,2)
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