CSUN Drops 5-2 Decision to UC Santa Barbara in Big West Tennis Duel

Friday, April 4

Northridge, Calif.

1:00 p.m.

California State University at Northridge

UC Santa Barbara

Photo by: Chuck Marvel

CSUN Drops 5-2 Decision to UC Santa Barbara in Big West Tennis Duel

4/4/2025 9:35:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif -- CSUN Women's Tennis fell to the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, 5-2 at Matador Tennis Complex Friday afternoon. Yullia Zhytelna and Madison Shepperson took home an impressive win at doubles as they downed Raphaelle Leroux and Marie Weissheim, a top 20 doubles team in the nation, 6-2. It would become a pivotal half point as CSUN did end up taking the doubles point, while Emma Moratalla Sanz had the lone singles win for the Matadors.

HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUN took the first point of the day by winning the doubles portion of the match. Zhytelna and Shepperson won their match as previously mentioned. Then, Moratalla Sanz and Elena Goodman bested Ali Benedetto and Lily Pradkin, 7-5 as CSUN took a 1-0 lead.

In the singles portion of the competition, UCSB quickly evened the contest as Amelia Honer defeated Zhytelna in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) on court No. 1.

The next battle to finish was Carla Pacot and Shepperson on the No. 5 court. Pacot would give Santa Barbara its second point of the match, besting Shepperson, 6-2, 6-3.

CSUN then tied the match when Moratalla Sanz defeated Katarina Vayser, 6-4, 6-2 on the No. 5 court as the Matadors pulled even 2-2.

Moratalla Sanz reflected on her match against UCSB: "Even though as a team we lost, I felt that we fought hard and we were not that far. We started up in a lot of courts. Regarding myself, I felt very confident in my game and that made me get the win in singles. In doubles, it was amazing closing that clinching point with all the energy and cheering from my teammates," Moratalla Sanz said.

UCSB then took the final three singles matches to seal the win. Leroux defeated Goodman on court No. 4, 7-6, 6-3. Victoria Santibanez Luna fell to Weissheim, 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 to give UCSB the deciding fourth point. In the final contest, Angela Ho was defeated by Tyra Richardson, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

NEWS AND NOTES

With the defeat, CSUN is now 9-8 on the season and 3-4 in Big West play.
With the win, Moratalla Sanz is now 7-7 in singles play and has won four in a row.
The doubles team of Shepperson and Zhytelna remain undefeated at 8-0.
Moratalla Sanz and Goodman are now 7-3 in doubles play.

UP NEXT
CSUN plays a quick turnaround as it will take on Cal State Fullerton tomorrow at Matador Tennis Complex at 11:00 a.m.