Friday, April 25
San Diego, Calif.
12:00 p.m.
California State University at Northridge
2
vs
4
Hawai'i
Photo by: Chuck Marvel
CSUN Tennis Finishes Season with 4-2 Defeat to Hawai’i at Big West Championship
4/25/2025 4:53:00 PM | Women's Tennis
SAN DIEGO, Calif -- CSUN Women's Tennis' season came to end on Friday as the Matadors fell to the Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine, 4-2 in the second round of the Big West Championship Friday afternoon at Barnes Tennis Center. Emma Moratalla Sanz and Madison Shepperson won their respective singles matches in the defeat.
The Rainbow Wahine took control from the start. Elena Goodman and Moratalla Sanz fell in the first doubles match to conclude as they were defeated by Hannah Galindo and Makeilah Nepomuceno 6-4 to give UH the first half point. The Rainbow Wahine would clinch the doubles point when Nikola Homolkova and Ana Vilcek bested Shepperson and Yuliia Zhytelna, 6-4 to give UH a 1-0 lead.
UH would also win the first singles match. Homolkova defeated Victoria Santibanez Luna in her final collegiate match, 6-3, 6-4 as the Rainbow Wahine went up 2-0.
CSUN was not done fighting though as the Matadors won the next match to finish. MoratallaSanz bested Nepomuceno in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4 to help CSUN cut the lead in half at 2-1.
The Matadors struck once again in the next singles decision, this time on Court No.5. Shepperson overcame Joelle Lanz 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) to even the score at two apiece.
However, this time, the Matador comeback came up short. UH would win the next two singles matches. Emma Forgac defeated Goodman with the second set going to a blow-for-blow tiebreaker. The tiebreaker was won on a 10th point by the opposition. The final score was 6-4, 7-6 (10-8).
The Rainbow Wahine clinched the match on Court No.1. In Zhytelna's final game as a Matador, she was defeated by Vilcek 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 as UH claimed victory.
NEWS AND NOTES
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH GARY VICTOR
"This is an exceptional group of young people. They sacrifice for each other and are genuinely caring about doing the right thing. Yuliia [Zhytelna] and Vika [Santibanez Luna] are two of the all-time Matador greats. Both were non-starters at one point early in their careers, and they have shown that through hard work and sacrifice that you can become an All-Big West player and lead your team to national rankings. Jackie [O'Neal] is one of the all-time brightest and most articulate players we have ever had. She's been extremely unlucky with injuries and didn't get to fulfill everything on the court that she wanted to. However, she was always a team leader and the president of SAAC. Cindy [Ung] was an all-conference doubles player before her injury took her out this year. Always supportive and unselfish, Cindy will always hold a special place in all of our hearts."
The Rainbow Wahine took control from the start. Elena Goodman and Moratalla Sanz fell in the first doubles match to conclude as they were defeated by Hannah Galindo and Makeilah Nepomuceno 6-4 to give UH the first half point. The Rainbow Wahine would clinch the doubles point when Nikola Homolkova and Ana Vilcek bested Shepperson and Yuliia Zhytelna, 6-4 to give UH a 1-0 lead.
UH would also win the first singles match. Homolkova defeated Victoria Santibanez Luna in her final collegiate match, 6-3, 6-4 as the Rainbow Wahine went up 2-0.
CSUN was not done fighting though as the Matadors won the next match to finish. MoratallaSanz bested Nepomuceno in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4 to help CSUN cut the lead in half at 2-1.
The Matadors struck once again in the next singles decision, this time on Court No.5. Shepperson overcame Joelle Lanz 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) to even the score at two apiece.
However, this time, the Matador comeback came up short. UH would win the next two singles matches. Emma Forgac defeated Goodman with the second set going to a blow-for-blow tiebreaker. The tiebreaker was won on a 10th point by the opposition. The final score was 6-4, 7-6 (10-8).
The Rainbow Wahine clinched the match on Court No.1. In Zhytelna's final game as a Matador, she was defeated by Vilcek 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 as UH claimed victory.
NEWS AND NOTES
- CSUN finishes their season 11-10 overall.
- UH earns a spot in the semifinals with the win.
- Zhytelna finishes her senior season with a 9-12 singles record.
- Santibanez Luna finishes her senior season with a 9-11 singles record.
- Moratalla Sanz finishes her junior season with a 10-8 record overall in singles.
ACCORDING TO HEAD COACH GARY VICTOR
"This is an exceptional group of young people. They sacrifice for each other and are genuinely caring about doing the right thing. Yuliia [Zhytelna] and Vika [Santibanez Luna] are two of the all-time Matador greats. Both were non-starters at one point early in their careers, and they have shown that through hard work and sacrifice that you can become an All-Big West player and lead your team to national rankings. Jackie [O'Neal] is one of the all-time brightest and most articulate players we have ever had. She's been extremely unlucky with injuries and didn't get to fulfill everything on the court that she wanted to. However, she was always a team leader and the president of SAAC. Cindy [Ung] was an all-conference doubles player before her injury took her out this year. Always supportive and unselfish, Cindy will always hold a special place in all of our hearts."
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2
#1 Singles Match
123
641
Ana Vilcek / 0 [UH]
466
#2 Singles Match
12
34
Nikola Homolkova / 0 [UH]
66
#3 Singles Match
1234
6230
Peppi Ramstedt / 0 [UH]
264UF
#4 Singles Match
12
46
Emma Forgac / 0 [UH]
67
#5 Singles Match
12
66
Makeilah Nepomuceno / 0 [UH]
34
#6 Singles Match
12
67
Joelle Lanz / 0 [UH]
46
Order of Finish:
2,5,6,4,1
Players Mentioned
/ 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