April 11, 2006

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific Tigers women's tennis concluded its regular season with a 4-3 loss to Cal State Northridge on Tuesday, Apr. 11.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 9-11 overall and 2-5 in the Big West Conference, while Cal State Northridge moved to 12-5 on the season and 3-4 in conference play.

The loss also assured the Tigers of the No. 6 seed in the Big West Tournament, which will be held in Indian Wells, Calif., beginning Thursday, Apr. 27. The four day tournament, which is scheduled to conclude on Sunday, Apr. 30, will determine the Big West Conference representative in the NCAA Championships.

For the first time since March 11, the Tigers were able to play in the teams' starting lineup as injuries and illness have forced Pacific to play with as few as four healthy athletes over the last month.

The match, however, was forced indoors due to wet conditions. As a result, the singles matches were played first and the doubles matches would only be played in the event of a 3-3 tie.

Senior Natalia Kostenko (Rostov-on-Don, Russia), freshman Jolanta Twarowska (Hamburg, Germany) and sophomore Helen Schneider (Dernbach, Germany) each nabbed singles victories to ensure that the Tigers would have a chance to claim the victory in doubles.

Playing in her final regular season match, Kostenko defeated Kanykey Koichumanova 7-6 (3), 6-2 for the Tigers first point at the No. 2 spot. Twarowska then earned a three set victory over Canna Furuta, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 at the No. 3 position to even the match at 2-2. Finally, Schneider deadlocked the match at 3-3 with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Sonya Kumar at the No. 6 position.

Pacific, however, fell in all three doubles matches.

The Tigers will be back in action on Thursday, Apr. 27 as Pacific begins play at the Big West Tournament. The No. 6 seeded Tigers will face the No. 3 seed at 3 p.m.

Results:
Cal State Northridge 4, Pacific 3
April 11, 2006 -
Stockton, Calif.

Singles:

1. Silvia Gutierrez (CSUN) def. Vana Mrazovic (PAC), 7-5, 6-0
2. Natalia Kostenko (PAC) def. Kanykey Koichumanova (CSUN), 7-6 (3), 6-2
3. Jolanta Twarowska (PAC) def. Canna Furuta (CSUN), 6-2, 3-6, 6-2
4. Ana Matijasevic (CSUN) def. Carla Tamborini (PAC), 6-4, 6-2
5. YuYu Myinttun (CSUN) def. Clara Schuhmacher (PAC), 7-5, 6-2
6. Helen Schneider (PAC) def. Sonya Kumar (CSUN) 6-2, 7-5

Order of Finish
Singles: 4, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,

Doubles (Cal State Northridge wins the Doubles point):

1. Gutierrez / Myinttun (CSUN) def. Mrazovic / Twarowska (PAC), 8-2
2. Koichumanova/ Furuta def. Kostenko / Tamborini (PAC), 8-6
3. Matijasevic/Olga Yepremian (CSUN) def. Schuhmacher/Schneider (PAC), 8-2
Order of Finish
Doubles: 3, 2, 1