With a 5-0 win over Sonoma State in the first round of the NCAA Division-II West Regional Tournament on April 29, the No. 17 UCSD women’s tennis team will live to play at least one more game — a second round date with the University of Hawaii-Hilo — for a chance to advance toward a national title.
CCAA Freshman of the Year Ina Dan led the Tritons to victory over the Sonoma State Seawolves in the first round of the NCAA Division-II West Regional Tournament, overwhelming her opponents in both singles and doubles play. UCSD faces the Vulcans today in the second round.
Following a tough regular season loss to Cal State Northridge on April 22, the Tritons jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in doubles play against Sonoma State to kick off the tournament. UCSD’s top pair of juniors, Katie McKee and Kristin Bronowicki, put down the Seawolves’ No. 1 partners, trouncing Becky Kiehn and Megan Malinsky 8-1.
Junior Marsha Malinow and freshman Ina Dan extended the Tritons’ lead with an 8-5 win over Laura Robertson and Mallory Cantrell, and sophomores Justine Ang Fonte and Molly Sullens joined forces to outplay Erin Kramer and Amy Piepenbrink 8-4.
Upon entering singles play, the Tritons needed only two more wins to secure a victory, as NCAA tournament regulations stipulate for play to stop as soon as a team clinches a win. Sensing the victory within their reach, the Tritons continued to dominate, with Bronowicki notching the first Triton singles win in a 6-1, 6-0 schooling of Laura Buck.
Only one win away from advancing to the second round, UCSD looked to its young star Dan, who was recently named California Collegiate Athletic Association Freshman of the Year.
Dan did not disappoint, cruising to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Robertson and springing the Tritons into the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Dan, showing why she received the CCAA honor, was pleased with her teammates’ focused efforts against the powerless Seawolves.
“We knew that we couldn’t be overconfident against Sonoma State,” she said. “Even though we generally do beat them easily, they’re a team that could potentially be strong.”
According to head coach Liz LaPlante, the CCAA Coach of the Year, Dan’s award is a testament to her contributions to the team.
“[Dan] has really improved a lot since she started playing with us,” LaPlante said. “Her confidence has improved tremendously, and she’s playing the best tennis now that she has all year.”
Even if Dan had fallen in her match, the Tritons would still have been in a comfortable position, as the rest of the singles players were leading their respective Sonoma State opponents when play was stopped.
UCSD’s No. 6 singles player, freshman Amelia Larkin, was the only Triton at risk of losing, as she was down 2-4 in the second set after winning the first 6-2.
UCSD’s first-round victory over Sonoma State was its third dominant performance over the Seawolves this season, with the Tritons previously posting lopsided 8-1 and 9-0 victories.
The win should also give the Tritons the confidence they need to overcome the mental advantage that Hawaii-Hilo earned during the regular season in a close 5-4 victory over UCSD on April 2.
LaPlante and her team are confident that the Tritons can prevail in the rematch against Hilo after using the match against the Seawolves to hone their skills.
“We were using [the Sonoma] match as a practice run for tomorrow,” she said. “We wanted to work on things and make sure we were focused so that we will do well against Hilo.”
If the Tritons hope to succeed, they will need outstanding performances from their usually sound singles contingent. In their regular season meeting against Hawaii-Hilo, the Tritons’ top three singles players of Malinow, McKee and Dan fell in their matches, which proved to make the difference in the match.
Dan hopes to avoid a similar finish, and feels adequately prepared for the challenge ahead.
“Everyone needs to play well this time around,” she said. “Hilo’s a strong squad but we’re equally strong.
Dan added that the Tritons have grown leaps and bounds since the close loss.
“When we last played Hilo, we were a different team,” she said. “Our chances for success are much better than last time.
If the Tritons can elevate their play against the Vulcans, LaPlante expects that her team will triumph and represent its region at the NCAA Championships in Kansas City, Mo.
“There’s no easy answer against [Hilo],” she said. “We’ll go in there with nothing to lose and play our best tennis.”
The determined Tritons hope to end the Vulcans’ season on May 4 in Hilo, Hawaii, with a national championship tournament berth on the line.
