SAN DIEGO - For the first time this season the Point Loma women's tennis team was the opening match in a doubleheader with the men's team, and the Sea Lions took full advantage. They began the match by sweeping all six singles matches from Concordia (CA) to clinch the match before even heading to doubles en route to a 7-2 victory.
 
The win evens the Sea Lions' record at 4-4 and drops the Eagles to 3-6 on the season.
 
"It was a different environment opening with singles," said Point Loma head coach Curt Wheeler. "The goal every time is to win the match before doubles and today the ladies responded to the challenge."
 
The Sea Lions swept five singles matches including Jen Weissmann not dropping a game in a 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 6. Nikki Newell and Kirsty Mountain made quick work of their opponents on courts 2 and 5, while Hillary Ramage and Regina von Koch also swept their opponents to give PLNU the match clinching point at 5-0. Madeline Cunningham then finished off her opponent at No. 1 singles in a tiebreaker 7-5, 1-6 and 10-4.
 
The match moved to doubles with PLNU already having put a tally in the win column. CUI picked up points on courts 1 and 3. PLNU earned another point from Regina von Koch and Preethika Venugopal at No.2s in commanding fashion 8-0.
 
"Regina had a great day today," said Wheeler. "She was really strong in her singles and she teamed with Pree to win emphatically in doubles."
 
Point Loma will head north tomorrow to face Cal State LA in a rematch from earlier this season which PLNU won 6-3. Tomorrow's match will start at 2:00 p.m. in Los Angeles.
 
"Back-to-back matches are always a challenge," Wheeler said. "We hadn't had a match since last Thursday so it was nice to be back in a competitive environment. We will be ready when we go up there."

#22 Point Loma 7, #13 Concordia (CA) 2
Singles competition
1. Cunningham, Madeline (PLNU-WT) def. VLAKIC, Ivana (CUI) 7-5, 1-6, 10-4
2. Newell, Nikki (PLNU-WT) def. JOHNSON, Ellie (CUI) 6-2, 6-0
3. von Koch, Regina (PLNU-WT) def. HAHN, Ulrike (CUI) 6-2, 6-3
4. Ramage, Hillary (PLNU-WT) def. UZZI, Caitlyn (CUI) 6-2, 6-4
5. Mountain, Kirsty (PLNU-WT) def. JENSEN, Kathrine (CUI) 6-0, 6-3
6. Weissmann, Jen (PLNU-WT) def. MARKLE, Kelsey (CUI) 6-0, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. VLAKIC, Ivana/JOHNSON, Ellie (CUI) def. Newell, Nikki/Ramage, Hillary (PLNU-WT) 8-5
2. von Koch, Regina/Venugopal, Preethika (PLNU-WT) def. UZZI, Caitlyn/ACCORSI, Layla (CUI) 8-0
3. MARKLE, Kelsey/HAHN, Ulrike (CUI) def. Cunningham, Madeline/Weissmann, Jen (PLNU-WT) 9-7
 
Match Notes:
Concordia (CA) 3-6; National ranking #13
Point Loma 4-4; National ranking #22; Regional ranking #6
PLNU plays in NCAA Division II
Concordia plays in the NAIA
T-3:35 A-42