SAN DIEGO - Coach Rich Hills has been roaming the Point Loma tennis courts for 33 years but you would never be able to tell it had been that long by the bounce in his step and the enthusiasm in his voice during his final home match and Senior Day on Wednesday (Apr. 9).
 
The No. 25 Sea Lions sent their longtime coach away in style as they stormed back from an early deficit in doubles to sweep No. 17 UC San Diego in singles and win the match 6-3.
 
Things did not look good for PLNU after UCSD took all three doubles matches but each member of this resilient squad fought off the Tritons in singles led by its seniors Hope Penner and Maika Adair (PLNU's other senior, Sharon Reibstein, could not play singles due to injury).
 
Penner swept at No. 3 singles over Nava Nowamooz 6-0 and 7-5. Adair's win did not come easy at all as she personally had to come back from an early deficit at No. 1s. She dropped the first set 4-6 and then took each of the next two sets by the score of 6-2.
 
Regina von Koch, Preethika Venugopal and Kirsty Mountain would all earn singles victories in straight sets as well. Von Koch won at No. 2s over Paula Chou 6-4 and 6-2, while Venugopal won at No. 4s by the score of 6-3 and 6-2. Mountain finished off Lisa Asai 6-1 and 6-3.
 
Hillary Ramage used three sets but still got the singles point for PLNU. She defeated Shannon Theisen at No. 5 singles 4-6, 6-1 and 7-5.
 
The Sea Lions will be back in action tomorrow when they travel to Vanguard for a 1:00 p.m. match.  

#25 Point Loma 6, #17 UC San Diego 3
Singles competition
1. Adair, Maika (PLNU-WT) def. Kyra Scott (UCSD) 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
2. von Koch, Regina (PLNU-WT) def. Paula Chou (UCSD) 6-4, 6-2
3. Penner, Hope (PLNU-WT) def. Nava Nowamooz (UCSD) 6-0, 7-5
4. Venugopal, Preethika (PLNU-WT) def. Tara Vanooteghem (UCSD) 6-3, 6-2
5. Ramage, Hillary (PLNU-WT) def. Shannon Theisen (UCSD) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5
6. Mountain, Kirsty (PLNU-WT) def. Lisa Asai (UCSD) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Kyra Scott/Paula Chou (UCSD) def. Penner, Hope/von Koch, Regina (PLNU-WT) 8-3
2. Nava Nowamooz/Shannon Theisen (UCSD) def. Adair, Maika/Ramage, Hillary (PLNU-WT) 8-6
3. Tara Vanooteghem/Laura Wilke (UCSD) def. Venugopal, Preethika/Reibstein, Sharon (PLNU-WT) 9-7

Match Notes:
UC San Diego 8-14; National ranking #17; Regional ranking #5
Point Loma 11-10; National ranking #25; Regional