SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Women’s Tennis team faced a tough match against No. 28 Pepperdine, losing 5-2 at the Arnhold Tennis Center. This marked their first home defeat of the season.
Match Summary:
- Final Score: UC Santa Barbara (No. 51) 2, Pepperdine (No. 28) 5
- Records: UCSB (4-8), Pepperdine (6-8)
How the Match Unfolded:
Pepperdine quickly claimed the doubles point. They dominated courts two and three, leaving UCSB’s match on court one unfinished at a tie of 4-4.
As singles play began, UCSB’s Emma Tutoveanu and Ali Benedetto lost in straight sets, giving Pepperdine early leads. The Waves secured the final needed point against Marie Weissheim, winning 6-2, 6-3.
UCSB found some success in the later matches. Amelia Honer won on court one, and Raphaelle Leroux followed suit on court six with a strong performance, winning 6-3, 6-3. However, Tyra Richardson’s effort on court three ended in a close match, where she lost 6-3, 3-6, 10-4.
Match Results:
Doubles:
- Honer/Weissheim (UCSB) vs. Broadus/Yang (PEPP) – 4-4, unfinished
- Grechinka/Harmon (PEPP) def. Lu/Pradkin (UCSB) 6-2
- Söke/Scilipoti (PEPP) def. Leroux/Benedetto (UCSB) 6-3
Singles:
- Honer (UCSB) def. Grechkina (PEPP) 6-4, 4-2, by default
- Broadus (PEPP) def. Weissheim (UCSB) 6-2, 6-3
- Yang (PEPP) def. Richardson (UCSB) 6-3, 3-6, 10-4
- Harmon (PEPP) def. Benedetto (UCSB) 6-2, 6-1
- Scilipoti (PEPP) def. Tutoveanu (UCSB) 6-4, 6-1
- Leroux (UCSB) def. Soke (PEPP) 6-3, 6-3
Looking Ahead:
Next up for the Gauchos is a showdown with Harvard on March 22 at 1 p.m. at the Arnhold Tennis Center. Fans can catch the action live here.
For more insights, a recent survey from the NCAA reported an increase in women’s college tennis participation over the last five years, highlighting the growing popularity and competitive nature of the sport. Coach Mark Johnson of UCSB emphasizes that these matches against ranked opponents are vital for building experience and resilience in his players. As the season continues, the Gauchos are focused on improving their performance and showing their true potential on the court.
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