Phoenix, Ariz.----- San Jose State University's Laura Malsert won a pair of point-clinching matches in doubles and in singles as the Spartans posted a 5-2 victory over Grand Canyon University in a non-conference women's tennis match.
The win for San Jose State (2-2) was the Spartans' first road victory of the dual match season and ended a brief two-match losing streak, both away from familiar Spartan Tennis Complex.
Malsert and teammates Savannah Sendar and Lara Marco Mas each won in doubles and in singles. Playing #1-doubles, Malsert and Sendar posted a 6-3 win over Grand Canyon's Emilia Occhipinti and Celina Buhr to give the Spartans two triumphs in the three doubles matches and a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard going into the six singles encounters.
Each team won two singles matches leaving San Jose State ahead, 3-2, with Malsert at #5-singles and Marco Mas at #6 on the courts to decide the match.
Malsert, from Six Fours Les Plages, France, outlasted Grand Canyon University's Ludovica Infantino, 7-6 (7-5), 7-5, giving her team the match-clinching fourth point in the seven-point scoring format.
"Laura was down 5-3 in the second set. To come back and clinch the match for us was a great effort on her part," said San Jose State women's tennis head coach Chad Skorupka. "Overall, this was a tough match up and down the lineup. It was a battle."
For the Spartans' head coach, he also watched Marco Mas overcome a 4-2 second-set deficit for a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Martina Lo Pomo of Grand Canyon (2-4).
Rozalina Youseva at #2-singles and Sendar at #4-singles were straight set winners for the Spartans in the victory.
San Jose State continues action on the road next weekend, February 21 and 22, with non-conference contests at Saint Mary's and Pacific, respectively.
San Jose State University women's tennis
San Jose State University at Grand Canyon University
GCU Tennis Facility, Phoenix, Ariz.
February 15, 2020
Non-conference match
Final score: San Jose State (SJSU) 5, Grand Canyon (GCU) 2
Doubles
Savannah Sendar & Laura Malsert (SJSU) def. Emilia Occhipinti & Celina Buhr (GCU), 6-3
Celia Morel & Jana Weiss (GCU) def. Rozalina Youseva & Tamara Culibrk (SJSU), 6-2
Alba Pedrero Galindo & Lara Marco Mas (SJSU) def. Ludovica Infantino & Autumn Prudhomme (GCU), 6-3
Order of finish – 3, 2, 1
Singles
Emilia Occhipinti (GCU) def. Alba Pedrero Galindo (SJSU), 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
Rozalina Youseva (SJSU) def. Natasha Puehse (GCU), 6-3, 6-4
Celina Buhr (GCU) def. Tamara Culibrk (SJSU), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Savannah Sendar (SJSU) def. Jana Weiss (GCU), 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
Laura Malsert (SJSU) def. Ludovica Infantino (GCU), 7-6 (7-5), 7-5
Lara Marco Mas (SJSU) def. Martina Lo Pomo (GCU), 6-4, 6-4
Order of finish – 6, 2, 1, 3, 5, 4