LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's women's tennis team wrapped up its 2026 home season and celebrated seniors Maldini Simic and Hideka Takamura on Senior Day.

After the ceremony, the Golden Eagles battled with Azusa Pacific before falling by a 7-0 decision at the Cal State LA Tennis Complex. A pair of singles matches went to third-set tiebreakers and a doubles set was unfinished at 5-5 on a competitive day of tennis that took more than three hours to complete.

The Golden Eagles enjoyed an emotional celebration of their two seniors before the match. Takamura, who played at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles as a sophomore in 2023-24, was making an impressive return after missing most of the season with an injury that was feared to be season-ending. Thanks to her hard work and the tireless efforts of Cal State LA athletic training staff, Takamura was able to return on the court before the end of her senior season.

Simic, meanwhile, has also battled through ailments in her second season with the program and played in one of the best matches of the day on Wednesday in a three-set marathon at No. 2 singles with Azusa Pacific's Karola Suviste. She also teamed with Sofia Pavlova at No. 1 doubles in a match against Suviste and Stina Larsson that ended at 5-5. Simic has played at either No. 1 or No. 2 singles in both seasons with the Golden Eagles and also at No. 1 doubles.

The Golden Eagles also honored their head coach, Richard Gallien, who is concluding his legendary coaching career on Saturday. He entered the 2026 season with 477 wins, including 415 as a women's coach and 62 in three years as a co-head men's coach at Pepperdine. He had a 393-161 mark in 22 seasons at USC and was Cal State LA's head coach for the past seven seasons.

The match on Wednesday was highlighted by intense battles at the top two spots. Pavlova won the opening set, 7-6 (8-6) over Larsson before Azusa Pacific's player rallied for a 6-7, 6-2 (10-0) win at No. 1 singles. Simic dropped the first set, but won the second before Suviste won in a tiebreaker, 7-5, 4-6, (10-0). 

Cal State LA will close out its 2026 season at Biola on Saturday.