Report and photo courtesy LBSU

Facing a tough opponent as the season comes to a close, No. 33 Long Beach State fell in a very close match to No. 51 Saint Mary’s. Deborah Armstrong was Long Beach State’s winner in singles.

Despite the 6-1 score, the match between the Gaels and the 49ers was extremely close throughout. The 49ers picked up a victory at No. 3 doubles as Cantlay/Luzar were able to beat Fisher/Strijbis 8-4, but Saint Mary’s equaled that win with an 8-4 victory at No. 1 doubles over Alawi/Dallara. In the deciding match, Poorta/Soper were able to hold off Armstrong and Rachel Manasse 8-6 to take the point.

In singles, Armstrong won decisively at No. 3 over Anna Chikhikvishvili 6-4, 6-0, but the Gaels were able to match that victory with one at No. 4 singles as Claire Soper outlasted Manasse in the first set tiebreaker on the way to a 7-6, 6-0 win.

With the match still very much in doubt, four singles matches went to a third set, but Long Beach State lost all four matches and Saint Mary’s claimed the victory over the 49ers.

Long Beach State plays two more non-conference matches against Pepperdine and LMU to finish out the regular season, and will then head to the Big West Tournament as the top seed from April 30-May 2.

Doubles

Isip/Chikhikvishvili, STM, def. Alawi/Dallara, LBSU8-4

Poorta/Soper, STM def. Armstrong/Manasse, LBSU 8-6

Cantlay/Luzar, LBSU def. Fisher/Strijbis, STM 8-4

Singles

Catherine Isip, STM def. #125 Jaklin Alawi, LBSU 7-5, 2-6, 6-2

Alex Poorta, STM def. Anais Dallara, LBSU 1-6, 7-5, 6-4

Deborah Armstrong, LBSU def. Anna Chikhikvishvili, STM 6-4, 6-0

Claire Soper, STM def. Rachel Manasse, LBSU 7-6 (4), 6-0

Alisa Spitzer, STM def. Julie Luzar, LBSU 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-0

Nienke Strijbis, STM def. Sarah Cantlay, LBSU 6-4, 4-6, 6-1