SURPRISE, ARIZ. -- Cal State LA's women's team ended its season - and the legendary coaching career of head coach
Sandy Kriezel - with an impressive win at the PacWest Conference Championships.
The Golden Eagles captured a hard-earned point in doubles and then took three of the first four singles matches to be completed to beat Point Loma, 4-1, in the match for fifth place in the conference. Cal State LA (9-11) won three of its four matches in the tournament as the No. 7 seed. Point Loma entered the tourney as the No. 5 seed.
The match concluded a 25-year coaching career for Kriezel, who was named the PacWest Coach of the Year on Wednesday. She was the head coach for the Golden Eagles for the past nine seasons and led Cal State LA to six straight top-25 national rankings for the first time since the 1990s.
Cal State LA was able to avenge two losses to the Sea Lions earlier this season, both by 4-3 scores.
The Golden Eagles played well once again in doubles to take an early lead.
Berta Acero Garcia and
Chelsey Ruiz won at No. 2 doubles, 6-2, over Shelby Groeneveld and Michelle Torres and
Amanda Schneider and
Isabella Lopez closed out a 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles over Gabi Armas and Ellie Gamble to clinch the point.
Luciana Di Laura posted a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles over Armas for the Golden Eagles' second point, Lopez recorded a 6-4, 7-6 win at No. 3 singles over Gamble for the third point and
Mariko Sagara wrapped things up with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 6 singles.
Cal State LA ended its season on a high note. Kriezel was named the conference Coach of the Year, while Di Laura earned second-team All-PacWest Conference honors and Ruiz received third-team recogntion. The Golden Eagles also celebrated the final matches for seniors Di Laura and Lopez, who helped the program achieve great things during their Cal State LA careers.