Win Streak Ends, CSUN Falls to Long Beach 4-1

By Zack Rome CSUN Athletics Communications Intern

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The CSUN Women's Tennis team saw its five-dual winning streak come to an end, as Long Beach State (10-8, 4-2 Big West) defeated CSUN (7-9, 3-3 Big West) 4-1 on a windy Friday afternoon at the Matador Tennis Complex.

The 49ers opened the contest by taking the doubles point. Long Beach's No. 1 doubles team of Lena Pacholski and Lalita Devarakonda defeated CSUN's Monika Van de Vondel and Skyla Alcon 6-0. Carlota Casasampere and Georgia Gulin would then go on to defeat Arpe Bagumyan and Emma Roenholt, 6-1 at No. 3.

Singles began with the Beach winning at No. 5 when Sadaf Sadeghvaziri defeated Mari Taslagyan 6-2, 6-1. The decision ended Taslagyan's nine-match winning streak.

Skyla Alcon, the current Big West Player of the Week, earned her sixth consecutive singles win, by defeating Maren Helgo 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3.

"Persistence was key, the wind was crazy, and it was very abnormal for what we were usually used to," Alcon said. "I had a little bit more belief, and I think that is what pushed me over the edge."

The 49ers' Lalita Devarakonda defeated Kiryang Kim 7-6, 6-3 in the No. 4 singles' match. Monika Van de Vondel could not overcome a comeback by Lena Pacholski at No. 1. Van de Vondel took the first set and was a point away from putting match point pressure on her opponent. Pacholski and Van de Vondel traded punches but, in the end, it was Pacholski who got the final say, as she took the match 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 and the dual for the Beach.

"We fought hard after not playing well in doubles." said CSUN head coach Gary Victor. "The positives are that we gave ourselves a chance to win in singles. You have to make the most of your opportunities versus a good team. The positives are there, but Long Beach is a good team, and they won the bigger points today."

The Matadors will look to start a new winning streak, as they head to UC Santa Barbara to face the Gauchos next Friday at 1 p.m.

~www.GoMatadors.com~

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Team Stats

Players Mentioned

Skyla Alcon

Arpe Bagumyan

Kiryang Kim

Emma Roenholt

Mari Taslagyan

Monika Van de Vondel