Irvine, Calif.—The San José State women's tennis team started the 2021 season on a positive note with a 4-1 win at UC Irvine Friday afternoon.
The Spartans returned to the court for the first time since March 1, 2020, a span of 349 days. The match, originally scheduled for 11 a.m., was pushed back to 2 p.m. on Friday after rain in the morning delayed the competition and took over three hours to complete.
The Spartans won the doubles point. Tamara Culibrk and Irena Muradyan won 6-1 for SJSU, before UC Irvine won 6-4 over the Spartans top doubles team of Alba Pedrero Galindo and Lara Marco Mas. Jovana Babic and Rozalina Youseva won the doubles point for San José State with a 7-5 win.
San José State won three singles matches and left two unfinished in the win. Muradyan won the first singles point for SJSU with a straight-set 6-2, 6-0 win. Youseva won the next Spartan point with a 6-4, 6-2 win. Babic needed three sets to win 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, to clinch the victory for San José State.
"Our two freshmen, Irena Muradyan and Jovana Babic, played phenomenal and did not play like freshmen. They played very well under pressure. It was great to see Irena win her singles match in straight sets and Jovana clinch the match for us as she battled through back pain. I am excited for this team," said Spartan head coach Chad Skorupka.
San José State travels to Sacramento State next Friday, February 19, for a 1 p.m. match.
San Jose State vs UC Irvine
Feb 12, 2021 at Irvine, Calif.
(Anteater Tennis Stadium)
San Jose State 4, UC Irvine 1
Singles competition
1. Jessica Tsukiji (UCI) vs. PEDRERO GALINDO, Alba (SJSU) 6-4, 5-7, unfinished
2. YOUSEVA, Rozalina (SJSU) def. Halla Alajeely (UCI) 6-4, 6-2
3. Jenna Schlatter (UCI) def. CULIBRK, Tamara (SJSU) 6-3, 6-4
4. Alyssia Fossorier (UCI) vs. MARCO MAS, Lara (SJSU) 7-6 (7-2), 2-6, 4-3, unfinished
5. MURADYAN, Irena (SJSU) def. Arianna Tilbury (UCI) 6-2, 6-0
6. BABIC, Jovana (SJSU) def. Emily Fowler (UCI) 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Alyssia Fossorier/Jessica Tsukiji (UCI) def. PEDRERO GALINDO, Alba/MARCO MAS, Lara (SJSU) 6-4
2. CULIBRK, Tamara/MURADYAN, Irena (SJSU) def. Jenna Schlatter/Arianna Tilbury (UCI) 6-1
3. BABIC, Jovana/YOUSEVA, Rozalina (SJSU) def. Dasee Carter/Emily Fowler (UCI) 7-5
Records: San Jose State 1-0; UC Irvine 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (5,3,2,6)
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