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LA JOLLA, Calif. – Even though UC San Diego won the doubles round in Saturday's dual at Northview Tennis Courts, UC Davis stormed back during singles play by sweeping the round, which led to a 4-1 win over the Tritons in the inaugural Big West Conference matchup between the teams.
 
By winning its third-straight match and fifth in the last six played, women's tennis will head to Sunday's 10:30 a.m. regular-season finale at UC Irvine with a 7-7 overall and 4-3 Big West record.
 
UC San Diego ends its season at 2-9 and 1-7.
 
Michelle Zell kicked-off UC Davis' comeback by easily defeating Anu Bhadada, 6-1 and 6-1, followed by Olive Maunupau's 6-1, 6-4 victory versus Shweta Kumar, which gave the Aggies a 2-1 lead at that point of the afternoon.
 
Yana Gurevich was the next Aggie to finish; just like her teammates, she recorded a straight-set result by defeating Ella Pachl, 7-6, 6-3.
 
UC Davis officially won the match once Sara Tsukamoto wrapped-up action on her court in a battle between each team's No. 1 singles player. After taking the first set 7-6 by winning the tiebreaker, 7-5, Tsukamoto wasted no time in securing the second set by a 6-2 result.
 
Sunday's matchup at UC Irvine is the last dual before the start of the Big West Women's Tennis Championship. This year's event will take place at Irvine Great Park starting with Thursday's quarterfinal round.
 
 
UC Davis 4, UC San Diego 1
April 24, 2021
La Jolla, Calif. (Northview Tennis Courts)

Doubles
1. Ella Pachl/Sophie Pearson (UCSD) def. Tsukamoto, Sara/Ko, Lauren (UCD) 6-0

2. Rachel Wagner/Anu Bhadada (UCSD) def. Hall, Shirley/Zell, Michelle (UCD) 6-0
3. Gurevich, Yana/Evloeva, Kristina (UCD) def. Shweta Kumar/Julianna Sabile (UCSD) 6-3

Singles
1. Tsukamoto, Sara (UCD) def. Sophie Pearson (UCSD) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2

2. Gurevich, Yana (UCD) def. Ella Pachl (UCSD) 7-6, 6-3

3. Rachel Wagner (UCSD) vs. Hall, Shirley (UCD) 6-4, 5-7, 0-2, unfinished
4. Zell, Michelle (UCD) def. Anu Bhadada (UCSD) 6-1, 6-1

5. Maunupau, Olive (UCD) def. Shweta Kumar (UCSD) 6-1, 6-4

6. Monica Stratakos (UCSD) vs. Evloeva, Kristina (UCD) 4-6, 5-6, unfinished
 
 
Match Notes
UC Davis 7-7, 4-3 BWC

UC San Diego 2-9, 1-7 BWC

Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,5,2,1)
 
 
 
ABOUT UC DAVIS
Centrally located between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe, over 700 student-athletes across 25 teams enjoy an unrivaled undergraduate experience at the fifth-ranked public school in the country. 
 
Ranked annually in the nation's top 10 in diversity and students' social mobility, UC Davis and its innovative Aggie EVO System helps student-athletes develop passions, connect with a comprehensive network of alums and industry leaders, gain real-world experience and thrive as a young professional following a successful launch to full-time employment or graduate school.