LOS ANGELES -- Cal State L.A.'s women's tennis team fell short Monday in a lengthy battle with regional opponent Azusa Pacific.

The Golden Eagles, ranked 20th in the nation, dropped a 7-2 decision to No. 13 Azusa Pacific in a match that took four-and-a-half hours to complete. Cal State L.A. (4-9) lost its ninth straight match, all against teams ranked nationally. Azusa Pacific improved to 14-5.

The match hinged on a trio of three-set matches, all of which were won by Azusa Pacific.

The Golden Eagles fell into an early hole, dropping two of the three doubles contests. Samantha Sismundo and Sevana Zargarian prevailed in a tight battle at No. 2 doubles, 9-7, over Azusa Pacific's Danae Ingwaldson and Lindsey Yeom. Azusa Pacific's Emily Harris and Natalie Johnson beat Cal State L.A.'s Leora Hemmerich and Syndey Postal at No. 1 doubles, 8-3, and Azusa Pacific also picked up the point at No. 3 doubles, where Stephanie Quan and Kim Koetterheinrich beat Sonia Landeros and Tiffany Leung, 8-4.

The Golden Eagles then dropped five of the six singles contests. Leung was the only Cal State L.A. singles player to win after she beat Yeom at No. 4 singles in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

The three three-set matches all went to Azusa Pacific. Harris edged Hemmerich, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 at No. 1 singles, Quan beat Vo at No. 5 singles, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2 and Koetterheinrich rallied past Sismundo at No. 6 singles, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Saturday with a home match against UC San Diego at 11 a.m.

#13 Azusa Pacific 7, #20 Cal State L.A. 2
Mar 31, 2014 at Los Angeles, CA

Singles competition

1. Emily Harris (APU) def. Leora Hemmerich (CSULA) 7-5, 4-6, 7-6

2. Natalie Johnson (APU) def. Sonia Landeros (CSULA) 7-5, 6-2

3. Danae Ingwaldson (APU) def. Sydney Postal (CSULA) 7-5, 6-3

4. Tiffany Leung (CSULA) def. Lindsey Yeom (APU) 6-3, 6-3

5. Stephanie Quan (APU) def. Victoria Vo (CSULA) 6-2, 6-7, 6-2

6. Kim Koetterheinrich (APU) def. Samantha Sismundo (CSULA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3

 

Doubles competition

1. Emily Harris/Natalie Johnson (APU) def. Leora Hemmerich/Sydney Postal (CSULA) 8-3

2. Samantha Sismundo/Sevana Zargarian (CSULA) def. Danae Ingwaldson/Lindsey Yeom (APU) 9-7

3. Stephanie Quan/Kim Koetterheinrich (APU) def. Sonia Landeros/Tiffany Leung (CSULA) 8-4

 

Match Notes

Azusa Pacific 14-5; National ranking #13

Cal State L.A. 4-9; National ranking #20