Thursday, April 24
San Diego, Calif.
10:00 a.m.
California State University at Northridge
4
vs
3
Cal State Fullerton
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Tennis Wins First Round of the Big West Championship Against Fullerton, 4-3
4/24/2025 2:56:00 PM | Women's Tennis
SAN DIEGO, Calif --CSUN Women's Tennis defeated the Cal State Fullerton Titans in a nailbiter, 4-3 on Thursday afternoon at Barnes Tennis Center. It was a duel that came down to the final singles match as it was 3-3 before Emma Moratalla Sanz defeated Milena Gevorgyan on Court No. 5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to win the match. CSUN took the opening doubles point, and Angela Ho and Elena Goodman won their singles matches as well.Â
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HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN started the day by taking the doubles point. Goodman and Moratalla Sanz defeated Mariia Nikitash and Diana Yanotovskaya 6-1 to capture the first half point. In the next doubles match, Milena Gevorgyan and Sein Myoung bested Ho and Victoria Santibanez Luna 6-3 to capture Fullerton's first half point.Â
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It came down to the final doubles contest on Court No. 3. Madison Shepperson and Yuliia Zhytelna bested Kaytlin Taylor and Seha Yu, 6-4. For the duo of Shepperson and Zhytelna, it was their 10th victory of the season.
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When singles play commenced, Fullerton tied things up when the first game ended. Yu defeated Santibanez Luna, 6-1, 6-3 to tie the match at 1-1 apiece. CSUN quickly took the lead again on Court No. 3. Ho continued her hot play in singles as she overcame Yanotovskaya, 6-4, 6-2 to make it a 2-1 game.
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On Court No.1, the Titans tied up the match for a second time when Myoung defeated Zhytelna 7-5, 6-1 to make it a 2-2 score.
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The back-and-forth duel continued on Court No. 4 when Goodman took care of Nikitash, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to give the Matadors a 3-2 lead.Â
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Goodman commented on today's match against the Titans, "The energy was amazing today. It really felt like there was so much belief and passion on every court. Emma and I had so much fun during doubles, and I think that's a huge reason why we were able to play so freely. In singles, I was really proud of how I showed up on important points as I played to win. We were so loud today, and I definitely fed off the positive energy. We're ready to bring it tomorrow as well!"
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CSUF wasn't done yet though. Kaytlin Taylor defeated Shepperson 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) on Court No. 6 to make it a 3-3 game.Â
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It all came down to Court No. 5. Moratalla Sanz and Gevorgyan were neck and neck as nobody seemed to have the upper advantage. However, Moratalla Sanz came from behind in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to win the match.
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NEWS AND NOTES
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH GARY VICTOR
"Our kids showed a ton of resilience and overall toughness today. So proud of the way they competed through injury, illness and the multitude of the challenges they faced. What a great moment for Emma. So happy for her to step up at that moment.
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UP NEXT
CSUN will take on the Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine on Friday at noon. CSUN looks to win two matches at the Big West Championship for the first time since its history.
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#GoMatadors
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HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN started the day by taking the doubles point. Goodman and Moratalla Sanz defeated Mariia Nikitash and Diana Yanotovskaya 6-1 to capture the first half point. In the next doubles match, Milena Gevorgyan and Sein Myoung bested Ho and Victoria Santibanez Luna 6-3 to capture Fullerton's first half point.Â
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It came down to the final doubles contest on Court No. 3. Madison Shepperson and Yuliia Zhytelna bested Kaytlin Taylor and Seha Yu, 6-4. For the duo of Shepperson and Zhytelna, it was their 10th victory of the season.
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When singles play commenced, Fullerton tied things up when the first game ended. Yu defeated Santibanez Luna, 6-1, 6-3 to tie the match at 1-1 apiece. CSUN quickly took the lead again on Court No. 3. Ho continued her hot play in singles as she overcame Yanotovskaya, 6-4, 6-2 to make it a 2-1 game.
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On Court No.1, the Titans tied up the match for a second time when Myoung defeated Zhytelna 7-5, 6-1 to make it a 2-2 score.
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The back-and-forth duel continued on Court No. 4 when Goodman took care of Nikitash, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 to give the Matadors a 3-2 lead.Â
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Goodman commented on today's match against the Titans, "The energy was amazing today. It really felt like there was so much belief and passion on every court. Emma and I had so much fun during doubles, and I think that's a huge reason why we were able to play so freely. In singles, I was really proud of how I showed up on important points as I played to win. We were so loud today, and I definitely fed off the positive energy. We're ready to bring it tomorrow as well!"
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CSUF wasn't done yet though. Kaytlin Taylor defeated Shepperson 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) on Court No. 6 to make it a 3-3 game.Â
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It all came down to Court No. 5. Moratalla Sanz and Gevorgyan were neck and neck as nobody seemed to have the upper advantage. However, Moratalla Sanz came from behind in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to win the match.
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NEWS AND NOTES
- CSUN improves to 11-9 on the season.
- With the win today, it marks the first time CSUN has won a Big West tournament match since April 27, 2023 (win over UC Santa Barbara).Â
- Shepperson and Zhytelna improved their season doubles record to 10-1 with the win.
- Ho is now 14-5 in singles play, having won three in a row.Â
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH GARY VICTOR
"Our kids showed a ton of resilience and overall toughness today. So proud of the way they competed through injury, illness and the multitude of the challenges they faced. What a great moment for Emma. So happy for her to step up at that moment.
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UP NEXT
CSUN will take on the Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine on Friday at noon. CSUN looks to win two matches at the Big West Championship for the first time since its history.
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#GoMatadors
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Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1,2
#1 Singles Match
12
Sein Myoung / 0 [CSF]
76
51
#2 Singles Match
12
Seha Yu / 0 [CSF]
66
13
#3 Singles Match
12
Diana Yanotovskaya / 0 [CSF]
42
66
#4 Singles Match
12
Mariia Nikitash / 0 [CSF]
62
76
#5 Singles Match
123
Milena Gevorgyan / 0 [CSF]
632
466
#6 Singles Match
12
Kaytlin Taylor / 0 [CSF]
67
36
Order of Finish:
2,3,1,4,6,5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
A Conversation With Gary Victor
Friday, May 29
Meet the Matadors - 2017 Women's Tennis
Thursday, January 26