FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton women's tennis made history for the third straight year in a row, recording a phenomenal 20-6 (6-2 BWC) overall record.
The 2017-18 campaign is the winningest season in program history. Fullerton earned the No.3 seed and recorded their first trip to the Big West Conference Championship match.
Last night was filled with fun and a great wrap to an amazing season #TusksUp pic.twitter.com/xVyKfMySMG
— Titan Tennis (@CSUFTennis) May 9, 2018
This season's squad proved to be the best one yet for the Titans with multiple records shattered. Cal State Fullerton welcomed five incoming freshmen for the 2017-18 campaign, Caisey Lee Emery, Jadie Acidera, Tiani Jadulang, Taylor Valenzuela and Genevieve Zeidan. The group was ranked the ninth-best incoming class among mid-majors according to TennisRecruiting.net.
Zeidan nabbed the program's first Big West Conference Freshman of the Year award. Zeidan went an overall 20-6 in dual play and went 6-2 in conference play at the No. 1 spot for the Titans. Zeidan was honored as Big West Player of the Week for the week of 3/14 and found a spot on the Big West All-Conference First Team in singles play.
During one point of the season, Zeidan, and Karla Portalatin recorded a 12-match win streak. At home, Fullerton went 10-1. Their only loss at home came from No.1 UC Santa Barbara on April 15.
Fullerton's 20 win season is the most recorded wins in program history. The program advanced to their first Big West Championship match after defeating Cal Poly 4-0 in the semifinals round. The Titans are now 1-1 in semifinal play during the Big West Conference Tournament.
The Titans met Hawai'i in the Championship but fell short to the Rainbow Wahine 4-2. Portalatin and Sarah Nuno got Fullerton on the board in singles play, but Hawai'i ultimately pulled through with the win.
Nuno and Portalatin's efforts did not go unnoticed as the two were honored by the Big West Conference earning All-Conference First-Team in singles and doubles play.
Portalatin came in clutch for the Titans this season with an overall record of 18-3 in dual play. She finished the season with an eight-match win streak. Portalatin snapped the program's 23-match losing streak to rival Long Beach State on April 20. The 4-3 win over Long Beach secured the Titans No.3 seed in the Big West standings.
Nuno finished the season with a dual record of 19-6 and also ended the season off with an eight-match win streak. Nuno and Portalatin proved to be the dynamic duo in doubles play for the Titans recording a dual play record of 17-5 on court number one. The Titans earned the doubles point a total of 16 times this season.
The Titans welcomed back Assistant Coach Ellie Edles back for her second season, and brought back Alexis Valenzuela as a volunteer coach for the program.
Dianne Matias finished her fifth year with the Titan Tennis program. She owns an overall coaching record of 81-58 and 74-43 mark while with Fullerton.
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