IRVINE, Calif. – Several PacWest teams started their 2022 tennis seasons last week, including a handful of matches that were played among PacWest teams with teams beginning their pursuit of a spot in the PacWest Championships in Surprise, Arizona.
On the men’s side, Fresno Pacific made its long-awaited return and opened the new era of the program with a 7-0 win against Reedley. The Sunbirds then traveled south to face Azusa Pacific in the only men’s match between two PacWest teams. The Cougars won the meeting 7-0, which was Azusa Pacific’s second 7-0 win in as many days.
Biola also opened the season with a pair of wins opponents from the SCIAC, beating Caltech 7-2 and Redlands 7-0. Holy Names earned its first win under new head coach
Tony Canedo. At No. 1 singles,
Mario Alviz won 7-5, 6-4 to lead the Hawks to a 5-2 win.
On the women’s side, Point Loma got two wins last week, including a triumph against NCAA Division I Portland State on Friday, coming from behind for a 4-3 win. No. 19
Arianna Audelo made her debut at No. 1 singles for the Sea Lions and won her match against San Diego Christian, 6-3, 6-0.
Academy of Art earned the first win against a fellow PacWest team, beating Dominican, 6-1.
Maria Casucci won 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 at No. 2 singles and
Paulina Alvarez also won in three sets 6-0, 5-7, 6-2 to help the Urban Knights start the season with a win. Dominican’s point was won by
Audrey Rafols in a rematch against No. 18
Sofia Ragona, who defeated Rafols in a three-set comeback during the ITA Fall West Regional. In the pair’s second meeting, there was no comeback as Rafols finished the deal in a tight second set, 6-0, 6-4 at No. 1 singles.
On Saturday, Fresno Pacific played at Azusa Pacific, and the Cougars won 6-1 after having beaten the Sunbirds 4-3 at last year’s meeting. No. 3
Nora Liga earned the win at No. 1 singles, beating
Lea Falentin 6-3, 6-4. It was Liga’s second win of the season after beating the No. 1 player from Cal State Fullerton earlier in the week.
The Cougars then went on to defeat Cal State LA, 5-2, in the Golden Eagles’ first match against a PacWest team since March 2020. No. 47
Madison Kane earned her second singles win of the year with a 6-4, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles. For Cal State LA,
Berta Acera won both her doubles set and singles match to help the Golden Eagles earn two points.
This week, several PacWest teams will travel to Kailua, Hawai`i on O`ahu for a preview of the PacWest Championships. For many PacWest teams, it is the first time traveling to Hawai`i since the PacWest Championships were held on the islands in 2013. The tournament provides a unique chance for Chaminade, Hawai`i Hilo and Hawai`i Pacific to host conference opponents in their home state and it will feature many of the top teams in the PacWest. Matches will begin on Friday and will go until Monday.
Weekly awards for the week of Jan. 31-Feb. 6
MEN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Nuno, Azusa Pacific
Sr. – Sylmar, Calif.
Nuno, who is ranked No. 13 nationally, is starting his senior season in the No. 1 spot in both singles and doubles and he is handling the position well through the Cougars’ first two matches. Nuno opened the season with a tough come-from-behind win against Pomona-Pitzer. After getting broken twice in the first set, he forced a deciding match tiebreak and won it 11-9 for a 2-6, 7-5, 1-0(9) win to open the season. The next day, the Cougars hosted Fresno Pacific and Nuno had a more straight-forward path to victory, beating
Ben Cronau 6-3, 6-2 for his second win of the season. In doubles, Nuno partnered with
Leyton Bohren and won both of his sets at No. 1 doubles 6-3 and 6-4.
WOMEN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Angelique Friedrich, Point Loma
Jr. – Las Vegas
Friedrich went 3-0 in singles last week, playing No. 2 singles for the Sea Lions, including a pair of wins against NCAA Division I opponents. Against Cal State Fullerton, Friedrich earned the Sea Lions’ loan point with a 7-6(2), 7-6(6) win to open the season. It was her first singles win in a duel match since the 2020 season. On Friday, Point Loma trailed 3-2 overall against Portland State and Friedrich dropped the first set of her match, 6-4. Friedrich’s doubles partner
Samantha Neilson won her match at No. 4 singles in three sets to tie the overall score at 3-3 with Friedrich’s match in a third set. The Sea Lions’ No. 2 singles player fought back to win her match and clinch the decision for Point Loma with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 triumph. Friedrich was right back on court the next day after the emotional win and picked up her third singles victory to start the season, winning 6-2, 6-3. She also won at No. 1 doubles with Neilson, 6-2.