The No. 58-ranked Long Beach State women’s tennis team maintained its success over the weekend with another 5-2 victory as it defeated Big West Conference opponent UC Davis.
The 49ers improved their record 8-3 overall and 4-0 in the Big West.
The ‘Niners continued to prove themselves worthy against conference opponents as they swept the Aggies in doubles at the Rhodes Tennis Center.
They eventually earned their victory after dropping just two matches in singles.
The Beach showed up strong in doubles as senior Anais Dallara, who went undefeated in every match this weekend, and junior Klaudia Malenovska stayed alive after blowing their 3-0 lead as they struggled through the rest of the set to barely win it 9-8.
Over on the No. 1 court senior Rachel Manasse and freshman Laura Bernard took on the UC Davis sophomores Kelly Chui and Megan Heneghan in a tough 8-3 victory.
Bernard’s solid net presence and Manasse’s overpowering returns were more than enough to take the set away.
“I’ve been on fire,” Manasse said. “I’ve been playing very well this weekend.”
Junior Sarah Cantlay and senior Julie Luzar sealed the deal in doubles as they beat Aggies senior Dahra Zamudio and sophomore Nicole Koehly 8-4.
LBSU made a strong showing in singles as junior Anna Jeczmionka outmatched junior Ellie Edles in two consecutive 6-0 sets.
Manasse continued her dominance this weekend as she took the match away from Zamudio in a 6-1, 6-3 victory.
With exceptional consistency and overwhelming backhands, her usual strength in the longer games was turned up a notch, or two.
“I’m feeling good,” Manasse said. “I had some good quality moments.”
Bernard struggled in singles, however, as she was put away in two sets 2-6, 3-6, by UC Davis’ Chui.
Nevertheless, the ‘Niners didn’t hesitate to close the match as Dallara answered to a 3-6 loss in the first set with 11 straight game wins, putting the match away in a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory over Heneghan.
Soon after, LBSU suffered its second and last loss of the evening, as Cantlay was defeated in her match against Aggies freshman Layla Sanders in three sets 4-6, 6-2, 2-6.
Malenovska was victorious in a battle of wills and endurance against junior Lauren Curry as she rallied back from a 5-7 loss in the first set to barely win the second set 7-6. She continued to win as she took away her second superior tie-breaker of the weekend, winning 10-3.
The 49ers came off a tough road trip with a pair of wins to show their at-home authority.
“It’s a lot more comfortable playing here [at home],” Manasse said. “I know the court, I know the area.”
The 49ers will host Sacramento State at the Tennis Rhodes Center on Thursday at 2 p.m.