INDIAN WELLS, Calif.- Cal State Fullerton will play the Semifinal round after winning against CSUN in dramatic fashion. The Titans will be facing Long Beach State this Saturday, at 9:30am, at the Indian Wells Tennis gardens.
The Titans are now 15-5 this season and they advance to the Semifinals for the third time in a row. The first time Fullerton was able to reach the Semifinals was in 2017.
It is the third consecutive year that the Titans beat CSUN in the Big West Tournament Quarterfinals.
DOUBLES
The first win of the day came on Court No.1 as Sarah Nuno and Karla Portalatin blanked the Matadors duo of Monika Van De Vondel and Skyla Alcon 6-0.
Jadie Acidera and Genevieve Zeidan were facing Sibel Demirbaga and Emma Roenholt at No.3 and allowed the Titans to score their first point of the day.
At No.2, Caisey Lee Emery and Masako Makiba were tied 4-4 with Ana Fraile Toboso and Joelene Coetzee.
SINGLES
Genevieve Zeidan did not wait long to extend the lead and give Fullerton its second point. She won her match at No.3 against Skyla Alcon 6-2,6-2.
The first reaction from the Matadors came on Court No.4. Ana Fraile Toboso reduced the Titans lead with her 6-4, 6-2 win over Emery.
Sarah Nuno answered the Matadors with a win in straight sets at No.2. The Titans were up 3-1 after Nuno dominated Coetzee 6-3,6-3.
Fullerton needed only one more point to secure the win and get their ticket for the Semifinals.
The Matadors reacted quickly as Emma Roenholt picked up a 6-3,6-3 win against Acidera at No.6.
Luxizi Meng went down early in her match losing the first set 0-6. She bounced back winning the second set 6-2. In the deciding set, Meng was not able to give the Titans the win and came short 3-6.
It all came down to Karla Portalatin and Monika Van De Vondel playing at No.1. The Matador picked up the first set 6-4 and the Titans answered winning the second set 6-3.
All eyes were on Court 1 as the two athletes were playing the deciding set. No one was able to break away and a tiebreaker was inevitable.
Finally, it is Portalatin who offered the Titans the win and qualification for the Semifinals as she won the tiebreaker 7-4.
UP NEXT
The No.3 seed Long Beach State won their Quarterfinal match blanking Cal Poly 4-0.
Long Beach State finished tied second with Cal State Fullerton after regular season play.
The Titans got the higher seed as they were able to beat Long Beach 4-3 during the regular season.
Long Beach is 15-5 this season, the same record as Cal State Fullerton.
The Titans are down 3-6 in Big West Championship play against Long Beach State.
The last time the two team met in the Big West Championships was back in 2014. First seed Long Beach State blanked the Titans, No.8 seed back then, in the Quarterfinals.
On the other side of the bracket, Hawaii (#4) and UC Santa Barbara (#1) will face each other in the semifinals.
RESULTS
Singles
- Karla Portalatin (CSUF) def. Monika Van De Vondel (CSUN) – 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4)
- Sarah Nuno (CSUF) def. Joelene Coetzee (CSUN) – 6-3, 6-3
- Genevieve Zeidan (CSUF) def. Skyla Alcon (CSUN) – 6-2, 6-2
- Ana Fraile Toboso (CSUN) def. Caisey Lee Emery (CSUF) – 6-4, 6-2
- Sibel Demirbaga (CSUN) def. Luxizi Meng (CSUF) – 6-0, 2-6, 6-3
- Emma Roenholt (CSUN) def. Jadie Acidera (CSUF) – 6-3,6-3
Singles Order of Finish: 3,4,2,6,5,1*
*Clinching Point
Doubles
- Nuno/Portalatin (CSUF) def. Van De Vondel/Alcon (CSUN) – 6-0
- Emery/Makiba (CSUF) vs. Fraile Toboso/Coetzee (CSUN) – 4-4 (uf.)
- Acidera/Zeidan (CSUF) def. Demirbaga/Roenholt (CSUN) – 6-3
Doubles Order of Finish: 1,3
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