AZUSA -- Cal State L.A.'s women's tennis team came out on the short end of another marathon battle Monday with No. 13 Azusa Pacific.

The Golden Eagles, ranked 20th in the nation, fell in a five-hour contest to Cougars, 6-3. The match was even at 3-3 after the first six contests had been decided, but Azusa Pacific rallied for three-set wins in the final three singles matches to take the match. It was the second time in a one-week period that Azusa Pacific (16-5) has outlasted the Cal State L.A. (5-10) in lengthy matches.

Leora Hemmerich had an outstanding performance at No. 1 singles, beating Emily Harris, ranked 22nd in the nation, in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. Hemmerich was ranked 39th in the nation in the most recent ITA rankings.

The Golden Eagles' other singles win came from Sydney Postal, who beat Danae Ingwaldson, 6-4, 6-0, at No. 3 singles.

The Golden Eagles dropped two of three tightly-contested doubles matches to fall into an early hole. Samantha Sismundo and Sevana Zargarian picked up the point with an 8-5 win at No. 2 doubles over Lindsey Yeom and Ingwaldson. Azusa Pacific got the other two points, taking the No. 1 doubles match when Harris and Natalie Johnson beat Hemmerich and Postal, 8-5 and also taking the No. 3 doubles match when Kim Koetterheinrich and Stephanie Quan edged Sonia Landeros and Tiffany Leung, 8-6.

After the first three singles matches came off the courts, the match was tied at 3-3. Hemmerich and Postal picked up the Cal State L.A. points and Azusa Pacific picked up a point at No. 6 singles, where Koetterheinrich beat Sismundo, 6-2, 6-2.

The Golden Eagles took the opening sets in the other three matches, but couldn't hold on. Johnson rallied past Landeros at No. 2 singles, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, Yeom rallied past Leung at No. 4 singles, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 and Quan got the final point when she prevailed at No. 5 singles, 4-6, 6-4, 4-4 (Vo retired).

Cal State L.A. will return to action on Friday when the Golden Eagles host Fresno Pacific at 11 a.m.


#13 Azusa Pacific 6, #20 Cal State L.A. 3
Apr 07, 2014 at Azusa, CA

Singles competition

1. #39 Leora Hemmerich (CSULA) def. #22 Emily Harris (APU) 6-1, 6-4

2. Natalie Johnson (APU) def. Sonia Landeros (CSULA) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3

3. Sydney Postal (CSULA) def. Danae Ingwaldson (APU) 6-4, 6-0

4. Lindsey Yeom (APU) def. Tiffany Leung (CSULA) 2-6, 6-3, 6-4

5. Stephanie Quan (APU) def. Victoria Vo (CSULA) 4-6, 6-4, 4-4, retired

6. Kim Koetterheinrich (APU) def. Samantha Sismundo (CSULA) 6-2, 6-2

 

Doubles competition

1. Emily Harris/Natalie Johnson (APU) def. Leora Hemmerich/Sydney Postal (CSULA) 8-5

2. Samantha Sismundo/Sevana Zargarian (CSULA) def. Lindsey Yeom/Danae Ingwaldson (APU) 8-5

3. Kim Koetterheinrich/Stephanie Quan (APU) def. Tiffany Leung/Sonia Landeros (CSULA) 8-6

 

Match Notes

Cal State L.A. 5-10; National ranking #20; Regional ranking #6

Azusa Pacific 16-5; National ranking #13; Regional ranking #3

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,6,1,2,4,5)

Official: Diana Williams T-5:10 A-39