SAN DIEGO, Calif.--- Sophomore Lauren Marker picked up her team-best seventh straight win, but Arizona couldn't quite finish the comeback, as it fell to San Diego State, 5-2, Friday afternoon out at the Aztec Tennis Center.
Both teams battled for the doubles point right down to the very end. SDSU's (3-5) tandem of Hoorn and Diaz took down Laura Oldham and Devin Chyphya 6-3, but the Wildcats (4-1) struck right back as Briar Preston and Shayne Austin took care of business on court one, as they notched a 6-3 victory themselves.
It all came down to court two, where it went back and forth for most of the match, but in the end it was the Aztecs who pulled off the dramatic win and claimed the point, as Nguyen and Johnson edged out Laruen Marker and Inge Hendrikx, 7-6 (3).
But Arizona came ready to play in singles action, as Marker (10-3, 5-0 Dual) easily defeated Kristin Buth, 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 1 spot to equalize things at 1-1.
Then Chyphya (7-5, 5-0 Dual) came through with her fifth straight win, as she blew by Paola Diaz de Regules on court six, 6-2, 6-1 to spot the Cats a 2-1 advantage.
“This was certainly a tough loss today,” said head coach Vicky Maes. “San Diego State played well, but I was disappointed in our crew's performance. We had a slow start in the doubles and worked our way back, but it proved to be too little, too late.”
“We played too defensive in our singles to hurt anyone. We need to regroup and use today as a learning experience. USD is a feisty team too and we need to come out with the attitude that we want to take charge of every court right from beginning.”
However, that would be the last lead UA would see, as the Aztecs secured victories on courts four, two, three, and five to clinch the win.
The Wildcats will get a chance to rebound quickly, as they'll take on San Diego, Sunday at 10 am MST.
San Diego State 5, No. 37 Arizona 2
SINGLES
1. No. 96 Lauren Marker (UA) def. Kristin Buth (SDSU) – 6-2, 6-1
2. Tami Nguyen (SDSU) def. No. 113 Briar Preston (UA) – 6-3, 7-6 (6)
3. Kennedy Davis (SDSU) def. Laura Oldham (UA) – 7-6 (6), 6-1
4. Jana Buth (SDSU) def. Shayne Austin (UA) – 7-5, 7-5
5. Hailey Johnson (SDSU) def. Inge Hendrikx (UA) – 2-6, 6-1, 6-4
6. Devin Chypyha (UA) def. Paola Diaz de Regules (SDSU) – 6-2, 6-1
Order of finish: 1, 6, 4, 2, 3*, 5
*Represents clinching point
DOUBLES
1. Preston/Austin (UA) def. K. Buth/J. Buth (SDSU) – 6-3
2. Nguyen/Johnson (SDSU) def. Hendrikx/Marker (UA) – 7-6 (3)
3. Hoorn/Diaz (SDSU) def. Oldham/Chyphya (UA) – 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2
