LOS ANGELES – The No. 29 Point Loma women's tennis team had a 5-4 come from behind victory over PacWest-affiliate member and No. 24 ranked Cal State LA on Thursday, Feb. 9.
 
The Sea Lions (2-0) had their work cut out for them in singles as the Golden Eagles were able to take two of the three doubles matches. PLNU lone point came at No. 2 where Michelle Torres and Shelby Groenveld won 8-4.
 
Each team won two singles matches (PLNU wins by Taylor McGowan & Groeneveld) to bring the match down to the results of the No. 1s and No. 2s. PLNU had to win both to win the match, and both Nikki Newell and Regina von Koch stepped up to do just that. Newell pushed her match to a third set with a win in set two, and then she dominated her opponent in the third set, 6-0, to tie the match at 4-4.
 
Von Koch also came back after dropping her first set to push her match to the decisive third set, where she prevailed (2-6, 6-4 and 6-2).
 
The Sea Lions will now prepare to host rival Azusa Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. 

#29 Point Loma 5, #24 Cal State LA 4
Singles competition
1. Newell,Nikki (PLNU-WT) def. Nozomi Matsuoka (CSULA) 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
2. Regina von Koch (PLNU-WT) def. Kayleigh Hall (CSULA) 2-6, 6-4, 6-2
3. Groeneveld,Shelby (PLNU-WT) def. Elizaveta Sokolova (CSULA) 6-2, 6-2
4. Iris Raileanu (CSULA) def. Camaratta,Nicole (PLNU-WT) 1-6, 6-4, 6-3
5. Luciana Di Laura (CSULA) def. Torres,Michelle (PLNU-WT) 6-1, 7-5
6. McGowan,Taylor (PLNU-WT) def. Isabella Lopez (CSULA) 6-4, 7-6

Doubles competition
1. Nozomi Matsuoka/Kayleigh Hall (CSULA) def. Newell,Nikki/Regina von Koch (PLNU-WT) 8-4
2. Torres,Michelle/Groeneveld,Shelby (PLNU-WT) def. Iris Raileanu/Isabella Lopez (CSULA) 8-4
3. Elizaveta Sokolova/Luciana Di Laura (CSULA) def. Camaratta,Nicole/Gamble,Ellie (PLNU-WT) 8-6

Match Notes
Point Loma 2-0; National ranking #29
Cal State LA 3-1; National ranking #24
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,5,6,4,1,2)