LONG BEACH, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton dominated the competition on the opening day of the Beach Fall Tournament, winning seven of nine singles matches and six of eight doubles matches for 13 total victories on the afternoon on Friday.
The excitement started in doubles play, as two Titan duos reaches the semifinals in Flight A, opening up tournament play with two straight wins.
Fullerton's tandem of Makiba/Zeidan upended UC Irvine's team of Dyali and Amiri in dramatic fashion, 7-6(6) to advance to the quarterfinals of Flight A. The duo then followed up the performance with an even stronger showing in the quarters, taking down CSUN's Kim/ Van de Vondel, 6-4 to reach the semis.
Karla Portalatin and Sarah Nuno followed their lead, teaming up to take down Grand Canyon's Prudhomme and Lo Pumo in dominating fashion, 6-0, to earn their spot in the quarters before grinding out a dramatic 7-6(5) victory over CSUN's tandem of Dinkelmeyer/Elhadj to reach the semifinals.
If both win on Saturday it would set up an all-Titan Flight A championship final on Sunday.
In Flight B, Fullerton's Luxizi Meng and Jadie Acidera teamed up to defeat UC Riverside's Hitomi/Valera, 6-3 before eventually falling in quarterfinal action. Taylor Valenzuela and Tiani Jadulang fell in their opening round doubles match, but recaptured some positive momentum, earning a 7-5 win over Portland State's Maher/Valk in consolation play.
The Titans saw seven athletes advance in the winners bracket during singles play, including sweeping both the Singles C and D brackets.
Sarah Nuno earned her first victory of the ball, taking down Montana's Julia Ronney in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. Luxizi Meng continued the positive momentum for Fullerton in Flight B, as she also earned a straight set victory over Montana's Cam Kincald, 6-1, 6-2.
Genevieve Zeidan put together one of the most dominating performances of the afternoon, earning a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Portland State's Gerda Upeniece in the opening round of Flight C competition. Jadle Acidera also earned a straight-set win, defeating Arianna Tillbury 7-6(5), 6-0.
Caisey Lee Emery was strong in her debut, easily defeating CSUN's Arpe Bagumyan 7-5, 6-2.
The Titans will continue competition tomorrow at 9 am PT.
DAY ONE RESULTS
SINGLES A
Elvira Jurravliova (LMU) def. Karla Portalatin (CSUF), 6-3, 6-3
Sarah Nuno (CSUF) def. Julia Ronney (MT), 7-6(4), 6-3
SINGLES B
Aneta Miksovska (WSU) def. Masako Makiba (CSUF), 6-4, 6-1
Luxizi Meng (CSUF) def. Cam Kincald (MT), 6-1, 6-2
SINGLES C
Genevieve Zeidan (CSUF) def. Gerda Upeniece (PSU), 6-1, 6-0
Jadie Acidera (CSUF) def. Arianna Tillbury (UCI), 7-6(5), 6-0
Caisey Lee Emery (CSUF) def. Arpe Bagumyan (CSUN), 7-5, 6-2
SINGLES D
Tiani Jadulang (CSUF) def. Tammy Van (UCR), 6-3, 6-3
Taylor Valenzuela (CSUF) vs. BYE
EXTRA MATCHES
Taylor Valenzuela (CSUF) def. Ashley Knecht (PSU), 6-3, 6-3
DOUBLES OPENING ROUND (Main Draw)
DOUBLES A
Makiba/Zeidan (CSUF) def. Dvali/Amiri (UCI), 7-6(6)
Portalatin/Nuno (CSUF) def. Prudhomme/Lo Pumo (GCU), 6-0
DOUBLES B
Tsodikova/Tillbury (UCI) def. Valenzuela/Jadulang (CSUF), 6-3
Meng/Acidera (CSUF) def. Hitomi/Valera (UCR), 6-3
DOUBLES QUARTERFINALS (Main Draw)
DOUBLES A
Makiba/Zeidan (CSUF) def. Kim/ Van de Vondel (CSUN), 6-4
Portalatin/Nuno (CSUF) def. Dinkelmeyer/Elhadj (CSUN), 7-6(5)
DOUBLES B
Gulin/Casasampere (LBSU) def. Meng/Acidera (CSUF), 6-3
DOUBLES CONSOLATION
DOUBLES B
Valenzuela/Jadulang (CSUF) def. Maher/Valk (PSU), 7-5
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