IRVINE, Calif. – Biola extended its winning streak to 13 matches last week, including a win over Hawai`i Pacific, becoming the first NCAA Division II team to defeat the Sharks this season.
 
Biola opened the week with a 5-2 win over Hawai`i Pacific, which was missing two of its top-3 players. Biola won five of the six singles matches to earn the win, beating the Sharks for the first time in program history. Brooke Fager was the one to clinch the win, beating her opponent 7-5, 6-4 at No. 5 singles.
 
The Eagles went on to defeat Hawai`i Hilo 4-3, getting the first four points before the Vulcans came back to take the final three matches. Then on Friday, Biola defeated Texas A&M Kingsville to make the winning streak 13 in a row. Biola is now 16-1 with the lone loss coming against Hawai`i Pacific in Waipahu, Hawai`i.
 
Hawai`i Pacific bounced back quickly from its first NCAA Division II loss to defeat a pair of teams ranked in the top-20 in the nation. The Sharks started with a 6-1 win over Azusa Pacific in a rematch of the West Regional Championship match. Marleen Tilgner spoiled Nora Liga’s undefeated start to the season in singles by winning at No. 1 for the Sharks, 6-3, 6-7, 10-6. Liga went on to win her next match 6-3, 6-0 against Isabella Dunlap, who is ranked No. 6 in the nation.
 
Hawai`i Pacific went on to defeat No. 7 UIndy, 4-1. Shaline Pipa returned to the No. 1 spot in Hawai`i Pacific’s lineup and defeated No. 17 Anna Novikova, while Tilgner won her match 6-4, 6-3 against Dunlap.
 
Colorado Mesa got its first win over a PacWest team this year, beating Holy Names, 7-0. Issy Coman won at No. 1 singles 6-3, 6-2 to lead the Mavericks to the win.
 
This week, Colorado Mesa will wrap up its trip to California with matches against Fresno Pacific and Dominican. Those matches could have implications on the Mavericks’ qualification for the PacWest Championships. MSU Denver will start its trip to California the same day that Colorado Mesa finishes its trip. The Roadrunners will face Point Loma, Fresno Pacific, Biola and Concordia in the team’s first matches against PacWest opponents this year.
 
Biola and Azusa Pacific will rematch on Saturday as the Eagles look to continue their winning streak against a pair of PacWest foes this week. Also on Saturday, Cal State LA will play at Concordia, while Fresno Pacific travels to Dominican. This week, the first set of PacWest rankings will be released. These rankings will be used to determine both seeding and qualification for the PacWest Championships. The top-12 teams for women’s tennis will earn a trip to Surprise, Arizona.
 
The latest computerized rankings have Hawai`i Pacific at No. 8, Biola at No. 10 and Azusa Pacific at No. 19. Fresno Pacific also earned a national ranking at No. 46. In singles, Liga remains at No. 3 with Pipa at No. 7 and Sofia Ragona from Academy of Art is ranked No. 9. Fresno Pacific’ Lea Falentin is ranked No. 24 just behind Elodie Busson at No. 19 for Hawai`i Pacific. Tilgner and Colbeyshae Emery should both see a significant jump in the rankings, which will be released later this week.
 
Weekly award for the week of March 7-13
 
WOMEN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Colbeyshae Emery, Biola
So. – Ventura, Calif.
After dropping her first set of the week, 6-0, Emery won six sets in a row in singles to lead Biola to three wins over NCAA Division II opponents as the Eagles improved to a PacWest-best 16-1 record. Emery started the week against fellow first-team All-PacWest selection Tilgner. After dropping the first set, Emery fought back in a tough battle to win a thriller 0-6, 6-4, 7-6(6), winning the last three points in a row after facing down a match point. Emery had a comparatively straight-forward path to her next two wins, beating Carolina Alfonsin, the No. 1 player for Hawai`i Hilo, 6-3, 6-0. She then won at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-1 against Texas A&M Kingsville. Emery has now won seven matches in a row in the last three weeks after starting the year with a 3-3 record. In doubles, she partnered with Mary Brascia to win two of the three sets at No. 1 doubles.

PREVIOUS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 8 - Angelique Friedrich, Point Loma
Feb. 15 - Thelma Sepulveda, Point Loma
Feb. 22 - Alexandria Mann, Biola
March 1 - Liga Nora, Azusa Pacific
March 8 - Sofia Ragona, Academy of Art
March 14 - Shaline Pipa, Hawai`i Pacific