LONG BEACH, Calif. — Long Beach State opened strong, but No. 68 Sacramento State closed stronger Saturday afternoon, as the Hornets claimed a tightly contested 4-3 win over the No. 52 Beach at the Rhodes Tennis Center.
The Beach secured the early momentum by capturing the doubles point. The tandem of Pamela Badillo and Thea Jagare set the tone with a 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles. Cecilia Costa and Paulina Franco sealed the point at the top position with a 6-3 victory. The third doubles match was left unfinished once the point had been clinched.
In singles, Sacramento State quickly evened the match. At No. 6, Palina Saulevich secured a 3-0 retirement victory to pull the Hornets level.
Long Beach State delivered two strong performances. Costa was dominant at No. 2, earning a 6-2, 6-1 victory, while Jagare battled through a first set tiebreak before pulling away for a 7-6 (9-7), 6-1 win at No. 3.
Sacramento State, however, swung the momentum in the remaining courts. Reese Walker delivered a straight set 6-4, 6-3 win over Diana De Simone at No. 1. Cami Maldono Gutierrez edged Badillo in a tight 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 contest at No. 4. Emiljia Pranyte followed with a gritty comeback at No. 5, dropping the first set to Paulina Franco before rallying for a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) to secure the win.
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