SAN DIEGO - Point Loma was pitted against a tough opponent today, facing the Division III Emory Eagles who are currently the top-ranked DIII program in the country. Despite an outstanding effort from the team on the day, they were unable to overcome the Eagles, falling 5-4 for the match. 

A strong showing out of the gate gave the Sea Lions a 2-1 lead after doubles play. With PLNU falling at No. 1 doubles, the duo of Carolina Cuevas and Gabi Armas evened up the score with an 8-6 win in No. 2 doubles. Ellie Gamble and Nikki Newell played a tough match on court three, the team came from behind to force a tiebreak set and then pulled out the win 8-7 giving the Sea Lions the lead heading to singles play. 

Point Loma wan unable to carry their momentum into singles play as the Eagles took the first three singles matches to take a 4-2 lead. Gabi Armas was able to get the first singles win for PLNU winning 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 to get the Sea Lions back into the match. The Eagles would clinch the match in No. 5 singles, despite a tough effort from Ellie Gameble who fell, 6-3, 7-5. With the match already clinched, Carolina Cuevas battled with Bridget Harding at No. 2 singles and earned a solid win. Cuevas took the match 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, to close the match with a final score 5-4 in favor of Emory. 
 
Team Records
Point Loma 13-4, Emory 5-3

Wheeler's Words
On the success in doubles play: "The girls again played strong doubles today against a tough opponent. Both #2 and #3 doubles won extremely close matches. In both of these matches the girls played confident and aggressive tennis in the big moments and that was the difference."

On Carolina pulling out a tough win: "Even with the team match already decided, Carolina fought hard to win her singles match. The fight Carolina showed throughout her match was impressive and set a great example for her teammates on how to compete no matter the team score."

On what the team can learn from this match going forward: "Anytime we win or lose, but especially when we lose, we talk about what we learned and how we can improve going forward. Today we lost a lot of close games during the singles matches and if we can improve closing out and finishing games it will help us down the stretch run."
 
Up Next
The Sea Lions will be back in action next Thursday, March 29, when they host the Concordia-Irvine Eagles at 11 a.m.

#1 Emory University 5, #11 Point Loma 4
Singles competition
1. Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico (EMORY) def. Nikki Newell (PLNU-WT) 6-3, 6-2
2. #22 Carolina Cuevas (PLNU-WT) def. Bridget Harding (EMORY) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
3. Stephanie Taylor (EMORY) def. #53 Shelby Groeneveld (PLNU-WT) 6-3, 6-3
4. Gabi Armas (PLNU-WT) def. Anna Fuhr (EMORY) 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
5. Defne Olcay (EMORY) def. Ellie Gamble (PLNU-WT) 6-3, 7-5
6. Emma Perelman (EMORY) def. Taylor McGowan (PLNU-WT) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Bridget Harding/Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico (EMORY) def. Shelby Groeneveld/Nicole Camaratta (PLNU-WT) 8-5
2. Carolina Cuevas/Gabi Armas (PLNU-WT) def. Anna Fuhr/Stephanie Taylor (EMORY) 8-6
3. Nikki Newell/Ellie Gamble (PLNU-WT) def. Katie Chang/Sasha Hartje (EMORY) 8-7

Match Notes:
Emory University 5-3; National ranking #1
Point Loma 13-4; National ranking #11
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,6,3,4,5,2)
PLNU plays in NCAA Div. II
Emory plays in NCAA Div. III
T-3:46