By Beth Renkoski 

03/03/09

Lancers Win Late Over Lions

Costa Mesa, Calif – Dropping to tenth in last week’s NAIA Top 25 rankings, the Vanguard Lions faced No. 7-ranked California Baptist University this evening at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center. With a late afternoon start to the match, the teams played until well after 9 p.m. before the Lancers pulled ahead for a 6-3 victory over the Lions.

Cal Baptist posted an 8-1 victory over Anna Valingsten and Maria Xavier in the No. 2 doubles match while the Lancers ousted VU’s No. 3 doubles team, Kateryna Malakhova and Brittnie Furuvald, 8-1 for their second point. Trailing 2-0, the Lions cut the deficit to 2-1 when Hana Jurcovicova and Betty Tesfa outlasted the No. 1 Lancer doubles team 9-8.

Jurcovicova (6-4, 6-1) and Tesfa (7-5, 6-4) were also victorious in the top two singles matches, but the Lancers secured the 6-3 decision with straight-set wins in the final four singles matches. CBU improved to 4-4 overall and 3-2 in GSAC with the victory over the Lions.

Vanguard, now 3-4 overall and 3-3 in GSAC, will play host to No. 2-ranked Fresno Pacific. The VU women are scheduled to start their match at noon at the Costa Mesa Tennis Center.

Today’s Match Scores:

No. 10 Vanguard (3-4, 3-3 GSAC) vs. No. 7 CBU (4-4, 3-2 GSAC)
Doubles
1. Jurcovicova/Tesfa vs. Montanha/Wren VU 9-8
2. Valingsten/Xavier vs. Vescovi/Oliveira CBU 8-1
3. Malakhova/Furuvald vs. Hascoet/Savic CBU 8-4
Singles
1. Hana Jurcovicova vs. Marcela Montanha VU 6-4, 6-1
2. Betyel Tesfa vs. Raquel Vescovi VU 7-5, 6-4
3. Kateryna Malakhova vs. Aurelie Hascoet CBU 6-2, 1-0 ret
4. Anna Valingsten vs. Dunya Wren CBU 6-3, 6-2
5. Maria F. Xavier vs. Maiara Oliveira CBU 6-3, 6-0
6. Brittnie Furuvald vs. Jelena Savic CBU 6-0, 6-3

Final score: VU 3 CBU 6
VU Season record 3-4 (3-3)