DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis recorded a shutout win over Sonoma State at home to kick off the 2020 season, highlighted by three freshmen earning their first career dual wins.

The Aggies started strong in doubles play, with a new pairing of Kristina Breisacher and Shirley Hall recording a 6-0 win at No. 2 to be the first off the court. Top duo of Lauren Ko and Sara Tsukamoto dropped just one game en route to clinching the doubles point for UC Davis, bringing them to a team-best six wins this year. 

In a back-and-forth battle at No. 3, Jessica Walker and Yana Gurevich ended up on top after claiming the first five points of the tiebreaker for a 7-6(1) victory.

Transitioning into singles play, the singles lineup was comprised of three freshmen at Nos. 4-6, with each taking care of business in their dual debut.

Ko made quick work of Sonoma's Amber Huk, posting her first career double-bagel victory to bring the Aggies to a 2-0 lead. 

Tsukamoto was locked into her match at No. 1 singles, leading 6-3, 2-0, but newcomer Sasha Turchak was forced to retire the match due to injury. Gurevich officially clinched the 4-0 victory with a straight-set win over Tiani Jadulang, winning 6-1, 6-4 on court 4.

Electing to play the rest of the matches out, Hall had a bit of a see-saw match against longtime opponent Hannah Highsmith, winning the first set 6-0, before falling to a 0-3 deficit in the second. Unfazed, the junior then reeled off six straight games to essentially post two 6-0 sets. 

At No. 2, Breisacher settled into her rhythm to defeat Carolina Alfonsin 6-3, 6-2, with freshman Kristina Evloeva rounding out the match with a 6-4, 6-2 win of her own for her first career singles win as an Aggie after missing most of the fall season due to injury.

"It was a great start to the season," said head coach Bill Maze. 

"I thought the energy was great, and the freshmen handled the pressure beautifully. We're really excited for the season, and looking forward to Oregon."

The Aggies will hit the road for their longest road-swing of the season, traveling to Oregon to play Oregon, Puget Sound, and Portland next weekend, before opening Big West Conference play at UC Riverside and Long Beach State at the beginning of February. 

UC Davis 7, Sonoma State 0
Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020
Davis, Calif.

Doubles
1. Lauren Ko/Sara Tsukamoto (UCD) def. Sasha Turchak/Eva Spindler (SSU) 6-1
2. Shirley Hall/Kristina Breisacher (UCD) def. Hannah Highsmith/Carolina Alfonsin (SSU) 6-0
3. Jessica Walker/Yana Gurevich (UCD) def. Tiani Jadulang/Amber Huk (SSU) 7-6 (7-1) 
Order of Finish: 2, 1* 3

Singles
1. Sara Tsukamoto (UCD) def. Sasha Turchak (SSU) 6-3, 2-0, retired 
2. Kristina Breisacher (UCD) def. Carolina Alfonsin (SSU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Shirley Hall (UCD) def. Hannah Highsmith (SSU) 6-0, 6-3
4. Yana Gurevich (UCD) def. Tiani Jadulang (SSU) 6-1, 6-4 
5. Lauren Ko (UCD) def. Amber Huk (SSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Kristina Evloeva (UCD) def. Eva Spindler (SSU) 6-4, 6-2 
Order of Finish: 5, 1, 4*, 3, 2, 6

ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 5-ranked public university in the nation, according to the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education, offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.

MARYA WELCH INITIATIVE
Named after the former physical education instructor, coach and Dean of Women who founded women's sports on the campus 25 years before the passage of Title IX, the Marya Welch Initiative for Women's Athletics provides comprehensive support for UC Davis' 16 athletics programs.
Through the support of the Marya Welch Initiative and its group members, student-athletes are provided the best possible opportunity to succeed inside the classroom, and in competition, through special project gifts and by increasing visibility and participation at women's events throughout the year.
All gifts to the Marya Welch Initiative are matched 1:1, doubling the impact on our women's programs.
To learn more about projects the Marya Welch Initiative is currently funding, like the Marya Welch Initiative on Facebook. Join this groundbreaking program by clicking here, contacting Assistant AD for Leadership Giving and Alumni Engagement Liz Martin at (530) 752-7326 or emartin@ucdavis.edu.

AGGIE EVO
Established during the 2017-18 academic year, the Aggie EVO System is UC Davis Athletics' investment in the primary mission of preparing student-athletes for a successful "launch" after graduation. Thanks to a collaboration of alumni, university resources, corporate partners, coaches and Student-Athlete Outcomes staff, all Aggies are guided over four years to acquire the skills, knowledge, opportunities and tools to better know and navigate the "World of Work" after graduating from UC Davis. Follow the Aggie EVO system on Twitter and Instagram at @AggieEVO.