Yuliia Zhytelna Wins Singles' Championship, Matadors Find Success at Beach Winter Invite.

LONG BEACH, Calif -- CSUN Women's Tennis opened the spring season at the Beach Winter Invite, hosted by Long Beach State. Senior Yuliia Zhytelna won the singles competition this past weekend as CSUN traveled to the Rhodes Tennis Center. The Matadors collected 15 victories, 11 of them coming in singles throughout the three-day tournament.

Zhytelna was a perfect 3-0 in singles, winning the individual championship. The senior from Ukraine won her match, 7-5, over Sally Pethybridge of Portland in Friday's action. On Saturday, she was victorious over Cecilia Costa of Long Beach State, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, and lastly she won the championship match by defeating Catherine Slowek from Miami (OH) 3-6, 6-0, 6-4. She came back after losing the first set by winning the next two sets.

"I played a pro event before the Winter Invite, and I did really well in it." Zhytelna said. "It made me confident that I can beat anyone. I think my level of confidence this past weekend was at its highest."

FRIDAY'S COMPETITION
To go with Zhytelna's victory, CSUN found the winner's circle in the singles competition three more times. Junior Angela Ho won her match against Isabella Marquart of Portland in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. Junior Emma Moratella Sanz won her match against Nadine Arbaizar Martinez of Portland, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Freshman Sydney Wilson was also victorious in her bout versus Meagan Pearson of Portland, 6-2 6-2., as she also won in back-to-back sets.

CSUN dropped doubles competition to Long Beach State, 4-0 in match play.

SATURDAY'S COMPETITION
Boosted by another win from Zhytelna, the Matadors had two more victories in singles play, all against the host school, Long Beach State. Wilson earned her second victory of the Invite, as she only lost one game against Johanna Hiesmair, 6-0, 6-1. Senior Nicole West found the winners circle for the first time on the weekend, besting Thea Jagare, 6-4, 7-6 (9-7).

West shared her thoughts on the tournament: "The Beach Winter Invite was a great tournament to lead us into the regular season next week. Everyone had really good moments and the energy was high. This weekend was very productive as we get ready for Hawai'i next weekend."

The Matadors did pick up a lone win in doubles on Saturday. The team of Zhytelna/Ho blanked the team of Sara Zalukar/Emilia Valentinsson from Miami (OH), 6-0.

SUNDAY'S COMPETITION
On the third and final day, CSUN amassed five wins total; three in singles play over Miami (OH) and two in doubles against Portland. Along with Zhytelna's third win, Moratella Sanz got her second victory of the Invite, when she came out on top over Lovisa Valentinsson 6-4, 6-1. Sofia Dermenjyan got on the victory board with her win over Avery Voss, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)
In doubles play, the team of Moratalla Sanz/West def. Isabella Marquart/Aleks Dimitrijevic 7-6 (7-4) and Zhytelna/Annette Robertson won over Maria Galatescu/Lexie Flores, 6-2.

UP NEXT:
CSUN begins spring dual play on Friday, Jan. 24 at Hawai'i Pacific. All matches will take place on The Kailua Racquet Club courts at 1 p.m.

Complete CSUN Results at Beach Tennis Winter Invite

CSUN vs Portland Day 1, Singles:
Yuliia Zhytelna (CSUN) def. Sally Pethybridge (Portland) 7-5, retired
Angela Ho (CSUN) def. Isabella Marquart (Portland) 6-4, 7-5
Emma Moratalla Sanz (CSUN) def. N. Arbaizar Martinez (Portland) 6-3, 6-4
Maria Galatescu (Portland) def. Nicole West (CSUN) 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, 6-2
Sydney Wilson (CSUN) def. Meagan Pearson (Portland) 6-2, 6-2
Lexie Flores (Portland) def. Madsion Shepperson (CSUN) 2-6, 6-2, retired
Aleks Dimitrijevic (Portland) def. Sofia Dermenjyan (CSUN) 6-2, 6-2

CSUN vs Long Beach State Day 1, Doubles:
Cecilia Costa/Johanna Hiesmair (Long Beach State) def. Yuliia Zhytelna/Angela Ho (CSUN) 6-2

Diana De Simone/Daria Malaescu (Long Beach State) def. Victoria Santibanez/Madison Shepperson (CSUN) 6-4

Paulina Franco/Daisy Carpenter (Long Beach State) def. Emma Moratalla Sanz/Nicole West (CSUN) 7-5

Thea Jagare/Pamela Badillo (Long Beach State) def. Sofia Dermenjyan/Annette Robertson (CSUN) 6-4

CSUN vs Long Beach State Day 2, Singles:
Yuliia Zhytelna (CSUN) def. Cecilia Costa (Long Beach State) 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
Diana De Simone (Long Beach State) def. Angela Ho (CSUN) 6-3, 6-2

Daria Malaescu (Long Beach State) def. Emma Moratalla Sanz (CSUN) 7-6 (7-0), 2-6, 7-0

Nicole West (CSUN) def. Thea Jagare (Long Beach State) 6-4, 7-6 (9-7)
Sydney Wilson (CSUN) def. Johanna Hiesmair (Long Beach State) 6-0, 6-1
Pamela Badillo (Long Beach State) def. Madsion Shepperson (CSUN) 6-5 ,retired
Paulina Franco (Long Beach State) def. Sofia Dermenjyan (CSUN) 6-0, 4-6, 6-0
Daisy Carpenter (Long Beach State) def. Annette Robertson (CSUN) 6-1, 6-3

CSUN vs Miami(OH) Day 2, Doubles
Yuliia Zhytelna/Angela Ho (CSUN) def. Sara Zalukar/Emilia Valentinsson (Miami (OH) 6-0

Malu Oliveira/Lauren Joyce (Miami (OH)) def. Victoria Santibanez/Madsion Shepperson (CSUN) 6-1

Emma Moratalla Sanz/Nicole West (CSUN) def. Sarah Dev/Nishitha Saravanan (Miami (OH)) 6-2

Avery Voss/Lovisa Valentinsson (Miami (OH)) def. Sofia Dermenjyan/Sydney Wilson (CSUN) 6-2:

CSUN vs Miami (OH) Day 3, Singles:
Yuliia Zhytelna (CSUN) def. Catherine Slowek (Miami (OH)) 3-6, 6-0, 6-4
Emilia Valentinsson (Miami (OH)) def. Victoria Santibanez (CSUN) 6-2, 6-1
Emma Moratalla Sanz (CSUN) def. Lovisa Valentinsson (Miami (OH)) 6-4, 6-1
Sarah Dev (Miami (OH)) def. Nicole West (CSUN) 6-4, 2-6, retired
Sydney Wilson (CSUN) def. Malu Oliveira (Miami (OH)) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-1
Sofia Dermenjyan (CSUN) def. Avery Voss (Miami (OH)) 6-4, 7-6 (8-6)

CSUN vs Portland Day 3, Doubles:
Sally Pethybridge/Alaia Rubio Perez (Portland) def. Victoria Santibanez/Madsion Shepperson (CSUN) 6-1

Emma Moratalla Sanz/Nicole West (CSUN) def. Isabella Marquart/Aleks Dimitrijevic (Portland) 7-6 (7-4)

Yuliia Zhytelna/Annette Robertson (CSUN) def. Maria Galatescu/Lexie Flores (Portland) 6-2

N. Arbaizar Martinez/Meagan Pearson (Portland) def. Sofia Dermenjyan/Sydney Wilson (CSUN) 6-2
#GoMatadors

Yuliia Zhytelna Wins Singles' Championship, Matadors Find Success at Beach Winter Invite.

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Players Mentioned

Sofia Dermenjyan

Angela Ho

Emma Moratalla Sanz

Annette Robertson

Madison Shepperson

Nicole West

Sydney Wilson

Yuliia Zhytelna