SURPRISE, Ariz. - Playing for third place in the PacWest championships the Sea Lions faced a familiar foe in Azusa Pacific. The teams met twice prior to today's meeting and each team came away with a win on their home court, Point Loma winning the most recent match. Playing at a neutral site, PLNU was able to find early success in doubles play but it was the Cougars who found a way to win in singles play to take the match. The Sea Lions fell 5-3 with Carolina Cuevas earning the only singles win for the team. 

After a huge win over a ranked doubles team yesterday, Shelby Groeneveld and Michelle Torres were unable to repeat their performance over the top APU doubles team, falling 8-4 to begin the match. Nikki Newell and Ellie Gamble would give Point Loma their first point of the day with their doubles win, and the pair has now won all ten of their doubles matches since teaming up. Carolina Cuevas and Gabi Armas would push the momentum in favor of the Sea Lions with a huge 8-7 doubles win, taking the tiebreak 8-6 to give the team their 2-1 lead heading to singles play. 

Once in singles play, APU came out aggressively with two of their four ranked players earning quick wins at No. 1 and No. 5 singles to give the Cougars the 3-2 advantage. The Cougars also got a win at No. 4 singles in straight sets pushing the lead to 4-2 before Cuevas was able to earn a win over the 17th-ranked player in the country to cut their lead to 4-3. With two matches left to play it would be the Cougars, taking the No. 6 singles match, who earned the fifth and final point to clinch the match. While her match remained unfinished, Groeneveld was leading in the third and decisive set at No. 3 singles. 

Team Records
Point Loma 18-7, Azusa Pacific 19-8

Wheeler's Words
On the team's doubles play throughout the tournament: "I feel that my ladies team has the strongest doubles play in the entire conference and that really showed today and throughout the tournament. The strong doubles play puts us in a position to beat any team even if they have the advantage in singles."

On the tough opponents Newell had to face throughout the tournament: "Nikki had to play against extremely tough players in all three matches. Having to play these players can make anyone lose belief and confidence, but Nikki fought hard and battled which definitely was an example to the other ladies."

On the great season the team had: "The ladies had a tremendous season this year. Their success can best be defined by a whole team effort. Strong doubles play and contributions from each singles spot was the recipe for many great team wins this year."

Up Next
The Sea Lions now await the NCAA selection show on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. PDT to see if their season will continue with NCAA tournament play.     

#13 Azusa Pacific 5, #23 Point Loma 3
Singles competition
1. #3 Toby Miclat (APUW) def. #46 Nikki Newell (PLNU-WT) 6-3, 6-1
2. #12 Carolina Cuevas (PLNU-WT) def. #17 Petra Ivankovic (APUW) 6-1, 6-2
3. #51 Diana Baumgartnere (APUW) vs. #48 Shelby Groeneveld (PLNU-WT) 4-6, 6-2, 1-5, unfinished
4. Kara Hinton (APUW) def. Gabi Armas (PLNU-WT) 6-4, 6-2
5. #54 April Wong (APUW) def. Michelle Torres (PLNU-WT) 6-4, 6-0
6. Jackie Resler (APUW) def. Ellie Gamble (PLNU-WT) 6-4, 7-5

Doubles competition
1. #33 Toby Miclat/Petra Ivankovic (APUW) def. Shelby Groeneveld/Michelle Torres (PLNU-WT) 8-4
2. Carolina Cuevas/Gabi Armas (PLNU-WT) def. Diana Baumgartnere/Kara Hinton (APUW) 8-7 (8-6)
3. Nikki Newell/Ellie Gamble (PLNU-WT) def. Mikayla Rinker/Courtney Page (APUW) 8-5

Match Notes:
Point Loma 18-7; National ranking #23
Azusa Pacific 19-8; National ranking #13
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (1,5,4,2,6)
PacWest Women's Tennis Tournament Third Place
Azusa Pacific is the No. 3 seed
Point Loma is the No. 4 seed