The No. 23 UCSD women’s tennis team’s season has finally come to an end on May 3, as they fell to rival Hawaii-Pacific University, 1-5, in the second round of the NCAA Division II West Regional to complete the year with a 14-9 overall record.
The UCSD women’s tennis team went 14-9 overall in 2007, including a perfect California Collegiate Athletic Association record, but a tough loss to Hawaii-Pacific University in the second round of the NCAA Division II West Regional on May 3 ended the Tritons’ season.
The Tritons fell into an early hole during doubles play as they lost two of the three matches. All three were very tightly contested and the team’s lone point came from the top doubles spot, as senior Marsha Malinow and sophomore Ina Dan managed to eke out a victory over their opponents, 9-8. No. 2 doubles pair junior Justine Ang Fonte and senior Christy Knudsen fell in a very close match, losing 6-8, while No. 3 doubles pair senior Allison Legakis and sophomore Yekaterina Milvidskaia lost in an even closer match, 7-9.
Despite the team’s losses in doubles, head coach Liz LaPlante was pleased with the Triton effort.
“”Last time we did lose all three, so this time we felt much better,”” LaPlante said. “”They were all very close. At one point all matches were tied 5-5, 6-6, so it was very exciting. [It was] some very good tennis and it just came down to a few points and all matches could have gone either way.””
The women’s tennis team was undefeated in its California Collegiate Athletic Association schedule for the fourth straight year but still was eliminated in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The Tritons were ousted from the playoffs when the Sea Warriors clinched the victory with the first three wins in straight sets during singles play. No. 3 singles Fonte lost 2-6, 4-6, while No. 5 singles Legakis lost 2-6, 2-6. No. 6 singles Knudsen put up more of a fight, but also fell 1-6, 5-7.
LaPlante was proud of the way her players competed throughout the match.
“”The team played so much tougher this time than [when] we played them at home in March,”” LaPlante said. “”They are just a little stronger down their singles lineup, but we probably would have won a couple if the match had been completed, and if we had won those doubles matches, we actually could have won the match.””
Malinow said that she knew Hawaii-Pacific University deserved the win after she found out Fonte lost her match.
“”Justine always puts up a fight; she will never have an unexpected loss, unless the girl’s level is towering over hers,”” said Malinow, the senior captain. “”If Justine were to lose, that’s how I know the other team had high-level players. I know she kept up but she couldn’t pull it out. That’s how I know they deserved it. She’s the fighter on the team.””
This is the second time in as many seasons that the Tritons have been knocked out of the playoffs in the second round of regionals. While being out of the playoffs is disappointing, the team was still satisfied with its season.
“”We are very proud of our accomplishments this year,”” LaPlante said. “”Cal State Los Angeles and Pomona both had much stronger teams this year and we actually weren’t quite as strong, so beating all of them and winning conference was a great achievement. I am very happy with the way the team played this year; we had great team camaraderie and the team got along so well and it was a special group of girls.””
Malinow was also proud, despite the team falling short of the national tournament.
“”Overall we did well,”” Malinow said. “”My dreams and aspirations were to go to nationals but I understand that we were stopped in the regionals just like last year.””
While Malinow is a senior, many players will return to try and add another year with a perfect conference record. But ending the streak of elimination in the second round of the regional tournament might be a bigger priority.
Malinow may be disappointed that this wasn’t the year, but she has enough to be proud of about the team’s performance.
“”I feel like we could have been the team, but we had to play our best of the best,”” she said. “”Being undefeated for four years in a row in conference, that’s enough. I’m very satisfied with the outcome.””