LONG BEACH, Calif. — No. 68 Long Beach State returns to the Rhodes Tennis Center on Friday for a non-conference matchup against No. 60 Dartmouth, with first serve set for 1 p.m. The Beach enters the contest looking to convert a competitive last weekend into forward momentum against another top-75 opponent.
Long Beach State split its two matches last week, opening with a decisive 4-0 sweep of Saint Mary’s before falling 6-1 to No. 28 Wichita State.
Against Saint Mary’s, the Beach controlled the match from the outset by securing the doubles point with wins on courts one and two. The pairing of Cecilia Costa and Paulina Franco earned a 6-4 victory at the top spot, while Pamela Badillo and Thea Jagare followed with a dominant 6-1 result. In singles, Long Beach State quickly closed out the match with a retirement victory for Costa at No. 2, along with straight-set wins from Jagare at No. 3 and Badillo at No. 5 to clinch the sweep.
The following day, the Beach faced a step up in competition against No. 28 Wichita State. The Shockers claimed the doubles point and carried that momentum into singles, winning five of six courts. Long Beach State’s lone point came from Paulina Franco, who battled through a tightly contested match at No. 4 singles to win in a third-set tiebreak, 6-4, 6-7, 9-7 . Despite the final score, several matches featured extended rallies and competitive sets against one of the top teams in the country.
Friday’s matchup presents another strong test with Dartmouth, which enters ranked No. 60 nationally. The Big Green are known for structured play and consistency across their lineup, making early momentum critical.
For Long Beach State, emphasis will be placed on doubles after contrasting results last week. The Beach secured the point convincingly against Saint Mary’s but were swept in doubles against Wichita State, a swing factor that dictated both match outcomes.
In singles, Long Beach State will look to build on the resilience shown in tight matches, particularly from the middle of the lineup.
With both teams separated by just eight spots in the national rankings, Friday’s contest projects as a tightly contested matchup that could hinge on doubles and the ability to finish close sets.