A fter winning the California Collegiate Athletic Association regular-season title with an undefeated record for the sixth consecutive season, the UCSD women’s tennis team now turns its sights toward postseason play.
The Tritons are set to host No. 15 Hawaii Pacific University on Saturday in a West Regional matchup. No. 10 UCSD (15-5, 9-0 CCAA) earned the program’s 28th straight berth in the postseason under head coach Liz LaPlante. The Tritons enter their showdown with Hawaii University (17-5) on a three-match win streak with their confidence riding high.
Earlier this season, the Tritons and Sea Warriors engaged in an exhilarating battle that saw UCSD squeak past Hawaii Pacific by the slimmest of margins, handing the Sea Warriors their first loss of the year thanks to clutch performances from junior Anita Athavale and senior Tessa Tran. Athavale earned two points for the Tritons by winning at No. 2 doubles and coming back from a one-set-deficit at the No. 3 singles spot. Meanwhile, Tran, who has endured several defeats at the hands of Hawaii Pacific in her career, helped clinch the 5-4 win for UCSD by also coming back from a set down for a stirring 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 win at the No. 6 singles position.
‘It was so rewarding to beat Hawaii Pacific during the regular season, but the stakes are raised now that the season has become a do-or-die situation,’ Tran said. ‘Entering this matchup, I feel our team has a much higher level of belief in each other, which gives us an advantage over the last meeting against the Sea Warriors.’
On paper, this weekend’s match looks to be as exciting as the previous encounter, with the Sea Warriors on a roll, having won six of their last seven matches entering this showdown. Hawaii Pacific has beaten the Tritons three times over the past two years, and is looking to avenge its loss to UCSD from earlier in the season. The victory on March 2 was the first time the Tritons had beaten the Sea Warriors since the 2005-06 season. The Tritons aim to advance into the second round of the regionals for the fourth consecutive year, while the Sea Warriors hope to improve on their Sweet 16 appearance from last year.
The winner of this matchup will move one step closer toward the NCAA Championships, which will take place in Altamonte Springs, Fla., from May 13 to May 16.
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