Women's Tennis

Sea Lions, Cougars Fall to Top Seeds

Point Loma and Azusa Pacific fall in NCAA quarterfinal matches to end 20+ win seasons.

ALAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla.--Pacific West Conference representatives Point Loma and Azusa Pacific gave it a good run but ultimately fell to the top two seeds at the NCAA Women's National Tennis Championships on Thursday at Sanlando Park. 

Point Loma fell to No. 1 Barry (Fla.) 4-0 and Azusa Pacific came up just short to No. 2 Nova Southeastern, 4-2. The Sea Lions' most successful season at the Division II level ended at 20-5 while Azusa Pacific wraps another great year at 21-5.

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN 4, AZUSA PACIFIC
The Sharks won the doubles point to quickly jump out to a 1-0 lead with victories on courts one and two. 

The No. 2 seeds then won in singles on courts two and six, but APU got a point at No. 1 with a default win in the second set to make it 3-1. 

The Cougars kept things interesting with a big win on court five when Karola Suviste topped Noemie Dadoun, 7-5, 6-3 to make the score 3-2. But the Sharks wrapped up the day on court three when Sofia Shing edged Stina Larsson, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). 

BARRY 4, POINT LOMA 0
The Bucs won at No. 3 and No. 2 in doubles to take the 1-0 lead.

Barry, who had won eight NCAA national championships, next won matches in singles on courts six and four. But the Sea Lions stayed alive on courts three, five and one.

Eventually, No. 22 nationally ranked Andrea Di Palma defeated PLNU's Quin Brady 6-1, 1-6, 6-1. That also ended matches on court one, where Arianna Audelo was leading 6-4, 4-4, and on court five where Anna Palencaoe was behind in a battle 6-4 and 5-4.

The Sea Lions, making their first-ever appearance in the NCAA West Regionals and National Championships, wrap up at 20-5.