BERKELEY, Calif. – San Diego State women's tennis fell to Cal on Friday afternoon at the Hellman Tennis Complex, 5-1. The match was initially delayed two hours due to inclement weather in the Berkeley, California area, so only singles matches were played on Friday afternoon.
The Aztecs (4-3) shuffled the singles lineup on Friday, as Tamara Arnold moved up to the No. 1 slot for the first time this season. Andejla Skrobonja then moved to the No. 2 slot, while Dariya Detkovskaya played at the third spot, Alicia Melosch competed in the fourth slot, Rania Azziz took part at the five spot, and Andrea Velcea played at the No. 6 spot for the Aztecs.
Cal (3-3) quickly jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as both Azziz and Arnold battled in tough conditions, but fell in their singles matches to begin the day. Skrobonja then went toe-to-toe with No. 36 in the nation, Jessica Alsola, but came up short falling 6-1, 6-4 in her match, which gave Cal a 3-0 advantage with three matches still to play.
Detkovskaya continued to battle for the Aztecs over on court three against No. 122 Katja Wiersholm. After dropping the first set 4-6, she responded in a big way by winning the second set 7-5, and then won the tiebreaker 10-8 to take home her sixth win on the season.
Elsewhere, the Aztecs found things a bit tougher. Melosch on court four went back-and-forth with Hannah Viller Moeller, but also fell 6-3, 6-3, giving the Bears a 4-0 advantage. The Aztecs then split the final two matches of the day. Velcea on court six forced a decisive third set in her match, falling in the first set 1-6, before mounting a massive comeback in the second set, winning it by the same score, 6-1, but then fell in the final set, 3-6, as the Bears earned a 5-1 win on Friday.
Up Next: SDSU returns home to southern California to take on No. 17 University of San Diego at noon PT at the Aztec Tennis Center.
No. 66 California (3-3) 5, San Diego State (4-3) 1
Feb. 24, 2023, in Berkeley, Calif.
Hellman Tennis Complex
Singles
1. Haley Giavara (Cal) def. Tamara Arnold (SDSU), 6-2, 6-1
2. No. 36 Jessica Alsola (Cal) def. Andjela Skrobonja (SDSU), 6-1, 6-4
3. No. 104 Daria Detkovskaya (SDSU) def. No. 122 Katja Wiersholm (Cal), 4-6, 7-5, 10-8
4. Hannah Viller Moeller (Cal) def. Alicia Melosch (SDSU), 6-3, 6-3*
5. Berta Passola Folch (Cal) def. Rania Azziz (SDSU), 6-2, 6-4
6. Makenna Thiel (Cal) def. Andreea Velcea (SDSU), 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
Order of Finish – 5, 1, 2, 4*, 6, 3
*Clinched the overall win