PHOENIX – The Blue Demons fell to the UC San Diego Tritons 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at the GCU Tennis Facility in Phoenix.
The match began with doubles action at noon CT. Redshirt sophomore Helin Alvarez appeared for the first time in the dual season for the Blue Demons after missing the 2025 campaign with a knee injury. Alvarez partnered with junior Roberta Sechi in slot three, but fell 6-3.
Freshman Clara Nilsson made her dual season debut with senior Hannah Smith on court one. The pair faced the Tritons’ Olivia Allegre and Julia Visaya, who controlled the match for a 6-3 UC San Diego win, claiming the doubles point.
No. 2 doubles Yasemin Pehlivan and Sasha Stula led 3-2 before the match went unfinished.
In singles, UC San Diego jumped out to a 2-0 advantage after a 6-2, 6-2 win for Carling Allaye-Chan.
No. 1 singles Stula tallied the first point for the Blue Demons with a comeback victory. The junior dropped the first set 4-6, but rebounded 6-3, 6-0, securing the match.
In slot three, Nilsson took an early, 6-4 lead after the first set. The Tritons’ Hana Gamracy responded to beat Nilsson 7-6, 6-1.
Pehlivan battled in her first collegiate dual season match after falling behind 6-3 following the first set. In slot four, the Istanbul, Turkey native claimed a back-and-forth second set, 7-6 to set up a decisive tiebreaker. Pehlivan dropped the final frame 6-1, giving UC San Diego the match victory.
Play continued with Sechi defeating Julia Visaya 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 on court five, earning her first triumph of the dual season.
Helin Alvarez closed out the match in the sixth spot. The Venezuelan won the first set 6-2, but dropped the following two, 3-6, 2-6.
Match Score
UC San Diego 5, DePaul 2
January 18, 2026
GCU Tennis Facility
Phoenix, Ariz.
Doubles
Olivia Allegre/Julia Visaya (UCSD) def. Hannah Smith/Clara Nilsson (DPU), 6-3
Sasha Stula/Yasemin Pehlivan (DPU) vs. Alisa Lansky/Allison Lian (UCSD), 3-2 (uf.)
Carling Allaye-Chen/Hana Gamracy (UCSD) def. Roberta Sechi/Helin Alvarez (DPU), 6-3
Singles
Sasha Stula (DPU) def. Olivia Allegre (UCSD), 4-6, 6-3, 6-0
Carling Allaye-Chen (UCSD) def. Hannah Smith (DPU), 6-2, 6-2
Hana Gamracy (UCSD) def. Clara Nilsson (DPU), 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
Alisa Lansky (UCSD) def. Yasemin Pehlivan (DPU), 6-3, 6-7, 6-1
Roberta Sechi (DPU) def. Julia Visaya (UCSD), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Allison Lian (UCSD) def. Helin Alvarez (DPU), 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
Notes
DePaul 0-1
UC San Diego 2-2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,1,3,4,5,6)
UP NEXT
DePaul is back in action Monday, January 19, to take on the Grand Canyon Lopes. First serve is scheduled for noon CT.
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