(SAN DIEGO) PLNU Women's Tennis had its historic season come to an end on Saturday afternoon in the NCAA West Regional after a 4-0 loss to Azusa Pacific.
 
"Today was a battle," Head Coach Curt Wheeler said. "I think both teams knew it was going to be tough tennis and it was going to come down to a few points, a few games. You have to give credit to Azusa Pacific. They played great tennis today and so did we. That's the tough part in sports when it doesn't go your way and you feel like you're right there."
 
The match was much closer than the final score indicated, with the three unfinished singles matches all requiring a third set.
 
Anna Pallencaoe and Jazlyn Miyamura were tied 5-5 at No. 3 doubles when APU claimed the doubles point with victories on Courts 1 and 2.
 
The Cougars then claimed the singles matches at No. 1 and No. 6 to take a 3-0 lead and put the Sea Lions on the brink.
 
PLNU nearly put itself in position for a remarkable comeback, with Pallencaoe, Quin Brady and Arianna Audelo all winning sets.
 
Brady and Pallencaoe both won their first sets at No. 4 and 5 respectively, overcoming deficits to each win the final three games of their opening stanzas.
 
After Audelo dropped her first set at No. 3, she stormed back in the second with four breaks of serve to win 6-1 and force a third.
 
Despite trailing 0-3 in her third set, Audelo fought back to tie up at 5-5, momentarily keeping the match alive after breaking her opponent's serve.
 
However, APU sealed its victory by winning at No. 2, with Thelma Sepulveda nearly extending her match to a third set.
 
Brady led 1-0 in the third set of her No. 4 match when the final result was confirmed.
 
"One great characteristic of the team this year was the ability to battle back, in individual matches or just as a whole when the other team had more points on the board," Wheeler said. "The great part is that regardless of it being 0-3, I still had great confidence in the ladies that we were going to come back, and they did too.
 
"That's been a big reason for their success this year, is that until that fourth point is won, they knew we were coming back. Today it just didn't happen. It didn't go our way, but it doesn't take anything away from a great year."
 

PLNU Women's Tennis finishes a historic season with a 17-5 overall record.

✅ program record 13-match winning streak
✅ tied best-ever finish at @ThePacWest Championships
✅ 3rd-straight NCAA West Regional appearance
✅ first-ever time hosting NCAA Regional pic.twitter.com/WP4Njdr38Q

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) May 12, 2024

 
This season marked the third-straight NCAA West Regional appearance for Point Loma, who went on a program-best 13-match winning streak earlier this spring before hosting the regional for the first time.
 
Wheeler credited upperclassmen Amanda Letzring, Sepulveda and Audelo for their leadership this season in setting the tone for the freshmen on the team.
 
"The last three years playing in the regional playoffs, there have been a lot of close matches, which has been great experience," Wheeler said. "The older ones have been a part of the team for all three of those years, with two seniors and one junior, to where they've been great leaders and a big reason for a lot of the success this year."
 
Point Loma finishes the season with a 17-5 overall record, with eyes on achieving more history next season.
 
"This will be great experience for all of those coming back next year and will also make them hungry," Wheeler said. "We achieved a lot of things, but they know we have the capability and the talent, everything it takes to be successful. I know those coming back are already excited for next year."