April 19, 2012
RIVERSIDE, CA - Cal State Fullerton freshman Jessica Pepa outlasted UC Riverside's Kate Bergeson in three sets at the No. 6 singles spot, helping the visiting Titans rally for a 4-3 Big West Conference women's tennis victory over the Highlanders on Thursday afternoon.
The win snapped a three-match losing streak for Fullerton, which improved to 7-10 overall and 1-5 in the Big West. UC Riverside ended its regular season at 3-14 overall and 0-8 in conference play.
Sophomore Morgan McIntosh set up the victory with her win at the No. 2 spot after the Titans had gone down, 3-2, in the match. McIntosh defeated Kat Saltarelli, 6-3, 7-5, to even-up the match at three apiece and set up Pepa's victory, a 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, marathon over Bergeson.
Junior Tiffany Mai defeated Jamie Raney in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, and freshman Kalika Slevcove posted a 6-2, 6-1, win over Courtney Pattugalan for Fullerton's other points.
UC Riverside had taken an early lead with the doubles point following wins at the No. 1 and No. 3 spots as the Titans' duo of Slevcove and Monica Rodriguez posted Fullerton's only doubles win, 8-5, over Natalie McKay and Saltarelli.
The Highlanders then got singles wins by Taylor Raney at No. 3 and McKay at No. 4 before Fullerton's rally.
The Titans close out their regular season in Northern California with a pair of matches this weekend, facing off against UC Davis on Saturday (April 21) at 11 a.m. before meeting Pacific on Sunday (April 22) at 11 a.m.
NCAA WOMEN'S TENNIS
Cal State Fullerton (4) at UC Riverside (3)
April 19, 2012 | Riverside, Calif.
DOUBLES
1. Raney/Raney (UCR) def. Mai/McIntosh (CSF) 8-2
2. Rodriguez/Slevcove (CSF) def. McKay/Saltarelli (UCR) 8-5
3. Bergeson/Pattugalan (UCR) def. Tomalko/dela Cruz (CSF) 8-1
SINGLES
1. Tiffany Mai (CSF) def. Jamie Raney (UCR) 6-1, 6-2
2. Morgan McIntosh (CSF) def. Kat Saltarelli (UCR) 6-3, 7-5
3. Taylor Raney (UCR) def. Monica Rodriguez (CSF) 6-0, 6-2
4. Natalie McKay (UCR) def. Malorie dela Cruz (CSF) 6-3, 6-4
5. Kalika Slevcove (CSF) def. Courtney Pattugalan (UCR) 6-2, 6-1
6. Jessica Pepa (CSF) def. Kate Bergeson (UCR) 6-0, 3-6, 6-3