SURPRISE, Ariz. - The No. 25 Point Loma women's tennis team was seeded seventh coming into the PacWest Championships, expected to go two-and-out, but this team fought and clawed, even after it was down 3-0 after doubles, to upset No. 6 seeded and No. 24 nationally ranked Sonoma State, 5-4, and advance to the consolation match on Saturday, Apr. 18.
 
Every one of the Sea Lions' backs were against the wall heading into singles trailing 3-0. There was almost no room for error and each woman stepped up on her court to help Point Loma capture the victory.
 
Jen Weissmann and Regina von Koch quickly took care of business with sweeps on courts 5 and 2, respectively, to cut the Seawolves lead to 3-2. Hillary Ramage then tied the match at 3-3 with a 6-4 and 6-2 victory at No. 4s.
 
Nikki Newell gave PLNU its first lead of the match (4-3) as she took down No. 47 ranked Leire Martinez 7-6 and 6-4 at No. 1s. Sonoma State answered Newell's win on court 1 with a victory on court 3 to tie the match at 4-4 and bring it all down to court 6 with Kirsty Mountain and Hillary Fazekas.
 
Mountain, who stepped into the Sea Lions lineup late in the season for Madeline Cunningham, took the first set 6-1 and was up in set two as both teams gathered around the court to see the fate of their teams. Mountain played a great baseline game and took the second set 6-3 to seal the match for Point Loma and send the Sea Lions to the consolation match.
 
"They flat out played better than us in doubles but our girls never lost belief," said PLNU head coach Curt Wheeler. "They believed in what they could do and they made a great comeback in singles which is really difficult to do being down 0-3. All the credit goes to these ladies that fought for every point. I am very proud of them.
 
"This is so good for the team," explained Wheeler. "With so many new and young players on our team just going through this experience is huge for them going forward. We lost a really tough 5-4 decision to Sonoma earlier in the year so once we knew we were going to play them we were looking forward to it.
 
"One of the most rewarding aspects of college tennis is when it comes down to that last match and we are all there (men and women) cheering her on," Wheeler continued. "To have it at 4-4 is the most exciting part in college tennis, and to come through on the winning side feels great and I am so happy for the girls because they worked so hard to get this."
 
PLNU is now 10-13 on the season as Sonoma State ends its 2015 campaign at 16-8.
 
Point Loma will face Azusa Pacific in the consolation match on Saturday, Apr. 18 at 2:00 p.m. This will be the third time this season PLNU will face APU. The Cougars won the previous two matches, including a 5-4 victory in the season opener.
 
"Doubles are going to a huge priority for us tomorrow," Wheeler added. "We've had tough matches with Azusa Pacific this year but they have all been close so if we are able to play the way we did in singles today, and play a bit better in doubles I like our chances."

#25 Point Loma 5, #24 Sonoma State 4
Singles competition
1. Newell, Nikki (PLNU-WT) def. #47 Leire Martinez (SSU) 7-6, 6-4
2. von Koch, Regina (PLNU-WT) def. Kaitlyn Haithcock (SSU) 6-3, 6-1
3. Jordyn Kearney (SSU) def. Venugopal, Preethika (PLNU-WT) 7-5, 6-2
4. Ramage, Hillary (PLNU-WT) def. Karlee Budge (SSU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Weissmann, Jen (PLNU-WT) def. Jacquelyn Ward (SSU) 6-3, 6-1
6. Mountain, Kirsty (PLNU-WT) def. Hillary Fazekas (SSU) 6-1, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Leire Martinez/Jacquelyn Ward (SSU) def. Newell, Nikki/Weissmann, Jen (PLNU-WT) 8-4
2. Kaitlyn Haithcock/Jordyn Kearney (SSU) def. von Koch, Regina/Venugopal, Preethika (PLNU-WT) 8-3
3. Karlee Budge/Hillary Fazekas (SSU) def. Ramage, Hillary/Mountain, Kirsty (PLNU-WT) 9-7

Match Notes:
Point Loma 10-13; National ranking #25; Regional ranking #8
Sonoma State 16-9; National ranking #24; Regional ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (); Singles (5,2,4,1,3,6)
T-4:08 A-115