IRVINE, Calif. --- Cal State Fullerton battled to win the doubles point, and then was victorious in four singles matches to defeat UC Irvine, 5-2, at Anteater Tennis Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The Titans (10-0, 2-0 BWC) have extended their program record win streak to 10 matches, while also picking up their second win against a Big West Conference opponent this season. UC Irvine drops to 1-8 overall and 0-1 in the Big West.
Sarah Nuno and Karla Portalatin edged UC Irvine's Hali Dickson and Vivien Dvali, 6-4, at No. 2 doubles, to even the doubles matches. The senior duo of Alexis Valenzuela and Camille De Leon claimed the doubles point for the Titans as the pair outlasted Constance Branstine and Stephanie Hazell, 7-6 (12-10), at the top of the order.
De Leon and Valenzuela are on a four-match win streak and are 7-1 on the season, while Nuno and Portalatin have won five in a row and improve to 8-1 on the year.
Fullerton has yet to lose the doubles point in 2017.
In singles action, Valenzuela defeated Constance Branstine, 6-3, 6-3, at the top of the order to remain unbeaten at 8-0 on the year as well as give the Titans a 2-0 lead.
Danielle Pham put the Titans ahead 3-0 with her 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ashlynn Hall at No. 6 in the order, as the junior is 8-2 on the year and on a six-match win streak.
Fullerton suffered a loss at No. 2 singles, but recovered as Sarah Nuno's 6-4, 7-5 victory over Cassidy Branstine at No. 4 in the lineup clinched the winning point. After dropping her first singles match of the year, Nuno has won eight straight.
Sophomore Masako Makiba defeated Hazell, 7-5, 6-4, at No. 5 in the lineup for Fullerton's fifth point.
Cal State Fullerton returns to action hosting Seton Hall at 11 a.m., Sunday, at Titan Tennis Courts.
Notes: With the win, Cal State Fullerton extended its winning streak to 10 matches, a program record…after dropping 20 straight matches to UC Irvine dating back to 1998, the Titans have won the last two meetings…the Titans have yet to lose the doubles point this season.
Tennis Match Results
Cal State Fullerton vs UC Irvine
Mar 02, 2017 at Irvine, Calif.
(Anteater Tennis Stadium)
Cal State Fullerton 5, UC Irvine 2
Singles competition
1. Alexis Valenzuela (CSF) def. Constance Branstine (UCI) 6-3, 6-3
2. Vivien Dvali (UCI) def. Camille De Leon (CSF) 7-6 (11-9), 6-2
3. Stephanie Nguyen (UCI) def. Karla Portalatin (CSF) 3-6, 7-6, 10-5
4. Sarah Nuno (CSF) def. Cassidy Branstine (UCI) 6-4, 7-5
5. Masako Makiba (CSF) def. Stephanie Hazell (UCI) 7-5, 6-4
6. Danielle Pham (CSF) def. Ashlynn Hall (UCI) 6-4, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Camille De Leon/Alexis Valenzuela (CSF) def. Constance Branstine/Stephanie Hazell (UCI) 7-6 (12-10)
2. Sarah Nuno/Karla Portalatin (CSF) def. Hali Dickson/Vivien Dvali (UCI) 6-4
3. Cassidy Branstine/Stephanie Nguyen (UCI) def. Masako Makiba/Danielle Pham (CSF) 6-1
Match Notes:
Cal State Fullerton 10-0, 2-0 BWC
UC Irvine 1-8, 0-1 BWC
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (1,6,2,4,5,3)
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)