SAN DIEGO - The Sea Lions pushed their win streak to seven with a 5-1 victory over Sonoma State on Friday afternoon. After pushing the original start time back several hours due to rain, the women and men had to play simultaneously in order to insure the matches would  be completed. The teams also played to clinch, meaning that the match would cease once one team earned their fifth point. 

Doubles play started off well for the Sea Lions with Carolina Cuevas and Gabi Armas winning their match 8-0 to put Point Loma on the board first. The Sea Lions would sweep doubles play as Shelby Groeneveld and Michelle Torres took their match 8-4, followed closely behind by Nikki Newell and Ellie Gamble who won their match 8-5. The team would carry their 3-0 lead and great momentum into singles play. 

PLNU dropped only one match on the day when Newell fell in straight sets to the 10th ranked player in the country. Shelby Groeneveld would give Point Loma their fourth point of the afternoon with a 6-1, 6-2 win over her opponent for her first win since being ranked in this past week's poll. Cuevas would clinch the match for the Sea Lions but she would have to battle in a three-set match that saw her overcome dropping the first set of the match. Both Armas and Gamble would not finish their matches and Torres never got the chance to compete in singles on the day. The team now takes their seven-game winning streak up against the top-ranked team in Division III tomorrow when they face Emory. 
 
Team Records
Point Loma 13-3, Sonoma State 11-4

Wheeler's Words
On Gabi playing at the four: "Gabi has played well this year at all three of the lower singles spots and she has continued to improve her play as the season has progressed. She has been a big part of our singles success this season."

On having two ranked singles players in the top of the lineup: " Carolina and Shelby have both been very strong at the 2 and 3 positions this season. Their winning percentage has been a big strength for us this year."

On facing a tough Emory team tomorrow: "Regardless of who we play, of our girls play with confidence and belief and stay committed and disciplined to their game style/game plan then we can beat any team."
 
Up Next
The Sea Lions are back in action tomorrow when they host DIII opponent, Emory, at 11 a.m.

#11 Point Loma 5, Sonoma State 1
Singles competition
1. #10 Jensyn Warren (SSU) def. Nikki Newell (PLNU-WT) 6-1, 6-3
2. #22 Carolina Cuevas (PLNU-WT) def. Amanda Zuidema (SSU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
3. #53 Shelby Groeneveld (PLNU-WT) def. Clarisa Colling (SSU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Gabi Armas (PLNU-WT) vs. Carolyn Brooner (SSU) 6-4, 1-2, unfinished
5. Ellie Gamble (PLNU-WT) vs. Jenna DeTurk (SSU) 6-6, unfinished
6. Katherine Long (SSU) vs. Michelle Torres (PLNU-WT) no result

Doubles competition
1. Shelby Groeneveld/Michelle Torres (PLNU-WT) def. Jensyn Warren/Amanda Zuidema (SSU) 8-4
2. Carolina Cuevas/Gabi Armas (PLNU-WT) def. Carolyn Brooner/Jenna DeTurk (SSU) 8-0
3. Nikki Newell/Ellie Gamble (PLNU-WT) def. Katherine Long/Hannah Highsmith (SSU) 8-5

Match Notes:
Sonoma State 11-4
Point Loma 13-3; National ranking #11
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,3,2)
T-3:18