By Bill Sheehan
Karla Portalatin traveled 3,000 miles from a Caribbean nation. Sarah Nuno made her way down the I-5 from the San Fernando Valley. While they took divergent paths to Cal State Fullerton, the two athletes have become a powerful force for the Titans' tennis team.
The duo has competed as the No. 1 doubles unit this season, going 24-6 overall and 15-5 in dual matches. On Friday, they'll lead No. 3 seed Fullerton against sixth-seeded Cal State Northridge at the Big West Women's Tennis Tournament quarterfinals at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The match begins at 11 a.m.
The semifinals are Saturday, and the championship match is Sunday.
This will be the third straight year that the two schools have met in the quarterfinals. Northridge won in 2016 and Fullerton came out on top in 2017, advancing to the semifinals for the first time in school history. The Titans beat the Matadors 4-0 in the regular season, although three of Northridge's starters did not play in that match.
"We're excited that we have a chance to win the tournament," said Portalatin, who hails from the Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo. "That's been our goal all year."
Nuno, from Sylmar, said the Titans are well prepared. "We'll begin the match playing our way. If we have to adjust, we'll adjust," she said.
Playing singles and doubles
The two will also compete in singles at Indian Wells. Nuno was the primary No. 2 singles player during the regular season. Portalatin was the usual No. 3 player and compiled a 12-match singles winning streak. Both say they have more fun playing doubles.
"I like doubles more because I have Karla with me, to support me," said Nuno. "When things aren't going well, I can lean on her," said Portalatin. "We pick each other up."
Despite their different backgrounds, Nuno and Portalatin have a lot in common. The two are roommates. Both are juniors, 20-year-olds, swing Wilson racquets, speak multiple languages and put Europe atop their travel bucket lists.
They have played for two years as a doubles team. "I think we have just gotten to know each other better, and we have improved on our strengths," said Nuno, explaining the tandem's success.
'They don't beat themselves'
Dianne Matias, Fullerton's fifth-year head coach, says the two pose a challenge for their Big West opponents.
"They are very tough team to play against because they understand doubles very well," said Matias. "They have a lot of tools, are both very good at the net and are consistent and solid at the baseline. You have to beat them, they don't beat themselves as a team."
The coach, who has guided the Titans to an 18-5 overall record and 6-2 mark in the Big West, says the team has an opportunity to improve on last year's semifinals appearance and seize the school's first Big West Tournament title.
"We want to win this thing," said Matias. "In the Big West, there is really no team that has been dominating this season," said Matias. "Everyone has kind of been beating up on each other. It's really who shows that day and leaves it out there."
She says the tournament will test the team's physical strength. Temperatures in the mid-90s are forecast.
Fullerton's use of a sports psychologist for a second straight year has increased the players' confidence, Matias said. "A lot of tennis is mental. If you are not mentally tough, it tends to get exposed on the tennis court."
Freshmen stepping up
Fullerton's recruiting class last summer received a No. 9 mid-major ranking from TennisRecruiting.net, and the newcomers have played significant roles this season. "We are a lot deeper this year," said Matias."Everyone is pushing each other,"
Freshmen Genevieve Zeidan from Taipei, Taiwan, Caisey Lee Emery from Ventura and Jadie Acidera from Anaheim have all started. And junior Luxizi Meng from Beijing, a transfer who is playing her first spring season at Fullerton, also been a key contributor.
"A lot of the freshmen felt the pressure at first, but they have done very well," said Portalatin, who moved to the U.S. as a high school senior. She trained that year at the Junior Tennis Champions Center in College Park, Md., while taking online classes from Laurel Springs School.
Portalatin started playing at 4 1⁄2 years old. As an adolescent, she played for the Dominican Republic's national team at the U14 and U16 levels and traveled to matches in many Latin American nations, including Peru, Colombia and Mexico.
A psychology major, she would like to work for the FBI as a behavioral profiler. But first, the 5-foot-7 Portalatin would like play on the International Tennis Federation's Pro Circuit.
Nuno, who began playing at age 9, was coached by her father, Hugo. She was a four-year varsity performer at Granada Hills Charter High School. Nuno, who is 5-foot-6, won four L.A. City Section titles -- three in singles and one in doubles.
The computer science major would like to work in cybersecurity.
During their free time, Nuno enjoys juggling and solving Rubik's Cubes, while Portalatin enjoys going to the
cinema.
"I love to go to the movies," she said. "I've got a MoviePass. And we always go once a week when I'm back in the Dominican Republic."
SUPPORT THE TITANS!
Fans can purchase tickets for various Cal State Fullerton athletic events by visiting FullertonTitans.com/Tickets. The Athletic Ticket Office can also be contacted by phone at 657-278-2783 or by email at athletictixs@fullerton.edu. The Ticket Office is located at the Titan House off of Gymnasium Drive at the eastern end of the Intramural Fields and is open from 10 am – 4 pm PT, Monday – Friday.
FOLLOW THE TITANS
Fans can keep up with the latest in Titans athletics by following us on Facebook (@FullertonTitans), Twitter (@FullertonTitans), and Instagram (@FullertonTitans) and Snapchat (FullertonTitans). In addition, the women's tennis team has established its own official Twitter page (@CSUFTennis), Facebook Page (@CSFWomensTennis), Instagram (@CSUFTennis) and Snapchat (CSUFTennis).