LONG BEACH, Calif. — Long Beach State delivered a statement result Saturday at the Rhodes Tennis Center, edging Cal State Fullerton 4-3 to hand the Titans their first Big West loss of the season.
The match hinged on a tightly contested singles slate after Fullerton secured the early doubles point. The Titans took two of three doubles courts, with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 overcoming a strong 6-2 victory from Cecilia Costa and Paulina Franco on Court 1.
Facing a 1-0 deficit, Long Beach State responded with four singles wins, showing depth across the lineup. Costa set the tone at the top spot with a straight-sets 6-2, 6-4 win over Martina Markov, leveling the match. The Beach continued to build momentum as Thea Jagare handled Amelia Zylberman 6-1, 6-4 at No. 3, and Pamela Badillo added another point with a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 5.
Cal State Fullerton stayed within reach thanks to a three-set comeback from Emilie Lugon-Moulin at No. 2 and a tight win from Seha Yu at No. 4 that required a 10-point tiebreaker, but Long Beach State ultimately sealed the dual behind Daria Malaescu. In one of the most competitive matches of the day, Malaescu outlasted Dana Kunza 7-5, 7-5 at No. 6 to clinch the fourth and decisive point.
The win pushes Long Beach State to 11-7 overall and 4-1 in conference play, while Fullerton, previously unbeaten in Big West action, falls to 12-5 overall and 5-1 in league competition.