LA JOLLA, Calif. -- NAIA No. 11-ranked Point Loma Nazarene knocked off NCAA DII UC San Diego 7-2 Monday afternoon in the team's first contest of 2012. The win comes as the Sea Lions try out a lineup with new players in the top three rungs of the singles ladder and with two new doubles pairings.

“It was good test and we passed,” said PLNU Coach Rich Hills “It was fun. It's a benchmark starting point.  We usually don't do that well against UCSD so anytime we get a win over them it points to a good start and a good year. It's surprising in a good way and we hope we are as good as we looked.”

PLNU grabbed the advantage with wins in two of the three doubles matches. Jessica Kwan and Kiersten Steinhauer finished first, beating Melinda Chu and Tara Vanooteghem, 8-2 on court two.

The match evened up on court three when Katie Mulloy and Laura Wilke topped the Sea Lion duo of Wileen Chui and Samantha Mohr, 8-4.

The rubber match went to the Sea Lions as Maika Adair and Sharon Reibstein got past Melissa Breisacher and Jaquelyn Davis 8-6.

Sea Lion players then claimed the first three singles matches to notch the five points necessary for the team win.  Hope Penner grabbed the first point with a quick 6-0, 6-1 triumph over Chu on court two. Kwan was next to win, beating Mulloy 6-0, 6-4 on four.

The fifth PLNU point didn't come easy but Chui got past Vanootehem 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Steinhauer lost to Davis 7-5, 6-3 on five to make the score 5-2 but the last two points went to the Green and Gold; Adair beat Breisacher 7-5, 7-6 and Reibstein beat Samantha Yeung in a three setter, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6.

“It was surprising to me with such a different line up that the girls did so well,” said Hills. “It's turning out that we are pretty deep so everyone knows they have to play well. We have a lot of things to figure out still, but I am very happy with this win.”

The Tritons fell to 0-3 with the loss.

Point Loma's next match is on Saturday, February 18. The Sea Lions take on GSAC rivals Fresno Pacific at 11 am.

#11 Point Loma Nazarene 7, #17 UC San Diego 2
Feb 06, 2012 at La Jolla, CA (Northview Tennis Courts)

Singles competition

1. ADAIR, Maika (PLNU) def. Melissa Breisacher (UCSD) 7-5, 7-6

2. PENNER, Hope (PLNU) def. Melinda Chu (UCSD) 6-0, 6-1

3. REIBSTEIN, Sharon (PLNU) def. Samantha Yeung (UCSD) 1-6, 6-3, 7-6

4. KWAN, Jessica (PLNU) def. Katie Mulloy (UCSD) 6-0, 6-4

5. Jacquelyn Davis (UCSD) def. STEINHAUER, Kiersten (PLNU) 7-5, 3-6, 6-3

6. CHUI, Wileen (PLNU) def. Tara Vanooteghem (UCSD) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition

1. ADAIR, Maika/REIBSTEIN, Sharon (PLNU) def. Melissa Breisacher/Jacquelyn Davis (UCSD) 8-6

2. KWAN, Jessica/STEINHAUER, Kiersten (PLNU) def. Melinda Chu/Tara Vanooteghem (UCSD) 8-2

3. Katie Mulloy/Laura Wilke (UCSD) def. CHUI, Wileen/MOHR, Samantha (PLNU) 8-4

Match Notes

Point Loma Nazarene 1-0; National ranking #11

UC San Diego 0-3; National ranking #17

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (2,4,6,5,1,3)

UCSD competes in the NCAA DII; PLNU competes in the NAIA

Generated on 2/6/2012