FULLERTON, Calif. – The Titans were able to win against UC San Diego for their first match of the season this Wednesday.
Exactly like last season's opening match against future Big West opponent, UC San Diego, the Titans won 7-0 in a near-perfect day.
For Fullerton (1-0), this win marks the fifth straight season-opening win. The Titans improve to 11-1 all-time against the Tritons.
The first win of the season in doubles play came from Karla Portalatin and Luxizi Meng. Facing UC San Diego's duo of Weil and Hale, the two Titans were able to win 6-4.
A few minutes later, it is Jadia Acidera and Casey Lee Emery that gave Fullerton a 1-0 advantage in the first match of the season. The Fullerton duo was down 1-4 early in the game but were able to come back and win 6-4.
The only bad note came from Sarah Nuno and Eira Tobrand who let the Tritons win the third doubles game 5-7 but the first point had already been secured.
In singles play, Karla Portalatin was the first one to finish her match leaving no hope for her opponent. Portalatin gave the Titans their second point of the day with a perfect 6-0,6-0 win on Court 1.
Caisey Lee Emery almost hit the perfect score as well on Court No. 3 as she won 6-0,6-1 against her opponent of the day.
One more point was needed for the Titans to be assured the win over UCSD. Luxizi Meng, on Court 5, will be the one to give the Titans the win by defeating Anu Bhadada on the score of 6-2,6-1.
Sarah Nuno on Court 2 also had a strong performance with her 6-1,7-5 win over Alexandra Weil.
Nuno was quickly followed by Jadie Acidera on Court 6. Acidera also won her game in two sets: 6-3,6-3.
Eira Tobrand, at the No. 4 spot, was the last Titan competing in this match and gave the Titans their seventh point after a hard-fought game ended in two sets, 7-5,7-5.
EXTRA MATCHES
Tiani Jadulang and Taylor Valenzuela paired up to play an extra match in doubles against the Tritons and picked up an easy win 6-1.
Petra Such also participated in extra play as she was able to win her game 6-0,6-1 against Madison Hale.
The only game going over two sets was won by Taylor Valenzuela in a super tiebreaker over Tritons' Brittany Newton.
COACH'S THOUGHTS
Coach Matias expected a better start in doubles play: "We got off to a slow start in doubles. We made too many errors in the beginning. We need to keep getting better hitting the ground running from the start. However, our players did a great job coming back from behind."
When it came to the singles matches, she liked how the team was able to bounce back and show some focus: "We were much more focused going into singles. Karla and Caisey Lee each played very solid matches. They were very consistent and controlled the points. I'm pleased with how the team competed today. "
She is looking forward to what this season has to offer but wants to stay focus on one game at a time: "If we keep doing the right things, keep working hard, and remain healthy I think this team is capable of doing something special. Our goal right now is to focus on one match at a time and to keep improving."
UP NEXT
The Titans will be back in action on Feb. 1-2 as the team will take the road to Arizona. They will be playing against Arizona State University and Grand Canyon University.
RESULTS
Cal State Fullerton 7, UC San Diego 0
SINGLES
- Karla Portalatin (CSUF) def. Ashley Chao (UCSD) – 6-0,6-0
- Sarah Nuno (CSUF) def. Alexandra Weil (UCSD) – 6-1,7-5
- Caisey Lee Emery (CSUF) def. Becky Chou (UCSD) – 6-0,6-1
- Eira Tobrand (CSUF) def. Valeria Corral (UCSD) 7-5, 7-5
- Luxizi Meng (CSUF) def. Anu Bhadada (UCSD) 6-2, 6-1
- Jadie Acidera (CSUF) def. Shweta Kumar (UCSD) 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 1,3,5*,2,6,4
*Clinching point
DOUBLES
- Ashley Chao/Becky Chou (UCSD) def. Sarah Nuno/Eira Tobrand (CSUF) 7-5
- Luxizi Meng/ Karla Portalatin (CSUF) def. Madison Hale/Alexandra Weil (UCSD) 6-3
- Jadie Acidera/Caisey Lee Emery (CSUF) def. Anu Bhadada/Shweta Kumar (UCSD) 6-4
Order of Finish: 2,3,1
EXTRA MATCHES
Doubles
Taylor Valenzuela/Tiani Jadulang (CSUF) def. Valeria Corral/Brittany Newton (UCSD) – 6-1
Singles
Petra Such (CSUF) def. Madison Hale (UCSD) – 6-0,6-1
Taylor Valenzuela (CSUF) def. Brittany Newton (UCSD) – 7-5,5-7,10-7
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