SURPRISE, AZ -- Cal State L.A.'s women's team picked a great time for its most thrilling win of the 2015 season.

The Golden Eagles shrugged off a disappointing end to the doubles portion of Thursday's first-round PacWest Championships match against Azusa Pacific and stormed back to beat the Cougars, 5-3, at the Surprise Tennis and Racquet Club. Cal State L.A. (10-8) took the season series from Azusa Pacific (13-10) after beating the Cougars for the second time in three meetings. The two nationally-ranked teams split matches earlier this season with each posting a 5-4 win on its home court. Cal State L.A. is ranked 22nd and Azusa Pacific is ranked 18th in the most recent ITA national rankings.

Cal State L.A. was making its PacWest Championships debut after joining the conference as an affiliate member last summer.

Elizaveta Sokolova rallied for a clutch three-set win at No. 3 singles, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, over Jackie Resler to clinch the match for the Golden Eagles.

The first-round match between the two rivals at the PacWest Conference Championships was just as close and even more dramatic than their regular-season meetings. Cal State L.A. entered the championships as the No. 5 seed, while Azusa Pacific was the No. 4 seed.

The Golden Eagles took a doubles point at No. 3 doubles, where Sokolova and Victoria Vo beat Bethany Duval and Lindsey Yeom, 8-1, while Azusa Pacific took the No. 2 doubles point, where Alexandra Makashov and Iris Raileanu fell to Valeriia Kashina and Jackie Resler, 8-4. The Golden Eagles lost a tough decision at No. 1 doubles, where Nozomi Matsuoka and Sonia Landeros fell to Natalie Johnson and Danae Ingwaldson, 9-8, in a tiebreaker.

That left the Golden Eagles entering the singles matches trailing, 2-1, but also set the stage for an inspiring comeback.

Matsuoka and Landeros bounced back brilliantly from their tough doubles loss and played expertly in singles. Matsuoka posted a big 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles over Johnson, who was ranked 17th in the nation in the most recent rankings. Landeros was locked in a three-set battle with Kashina at No. 2 singles when the match was clinched so her match was unfinished.

Makashov beat Yeom at No. 5 singles, 6-3, 6-2, and Vo beat Sierra Troxel at No. 6 singles, 6-2, 6-3.

Makashov, Vo and Matsuoka finished off their victories to give the Golden Eagles a 4-3 lead right as Sokolova had sent her match to a third-set. The talented freshman pulled out a tight second set and then took command in the deciding frame.

Cal State L.A. will now play in the semi-finals on Friday against top-seed BYU-Hawaii, which is ranked No. 3 in the country. That match is set for a 2 p.m. start.

#22 Cal State L.A. 5, #18 Azusa Pacific 3
Apr 16, 2015 at Surprize, AZ

Singles competition

1. #40 Nozomi Matsuoka (LA) def. #17 Natalie Johnson (APU) 6-1, 6-4

2. Valeriia Kashina (APU) vs. Sonia Landeros (LA) unfinished

3. Elizaveta Sokolova (LA) def. Jackie Resler (APU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

4. Danae Ingwaldson (APU) def. Iris Raileanu (LA) 6-2, 6-2

5. Alexandra Makashov (LA) def. Lindsey Yeom (APU) 6-3, 6-2

6. Victoria Vo (LA) def. Sierra Troxel (APU) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. Natalie Johnson/Danae Ingwaldson (APU) def. Nozomi Matsuoka/Sonia Landeros (LA) 9-8

2. Valeriia Kashina/Jackie Resler (APU) def. Alexandra Makashov/Iris Raileanu (LA) 8-4

3. Victoria Vo/Elizaveta Sokolova (LA) def. Bethany Duval/Lindsey Yeom (APU) 8-1

Match Notes

Cal State L.A. 10-8; National ranking #22; Regional ranking #6

Azusa Pacific 13-10; National ranking #18; Regional ranking #5

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

T-4:08 A-67