With the wind blustering Wednesday afternoon, the No. 48-ranked Long Beach State women’s tennis team finished off the regular season by beating UC Santa Barbara 7-0 on the Campus Courts.
The 49ers won the three doubles matches and then went on to win the six singles matches without dropping a set.
The win clinches the No. 2 seed for LBSU (15-8, 6-1) as the team heads into the Big West Conference Tournament, which will take place in Indian Wells, Calif. on April 27-29.
“I thought everyone stepped it up today and played well,” said LBSU head coach Jenny Hilt-Costello.
It was the last home and regular season match for LBSU’s two seniors, Sandra Rocha and Rachel Porsz. Both student-athletes won their singles matches in straight sets, along with winning their doubles match.
Rocha will leave The Beach with more wins than any other LBSU women’s tennis player ever. In her four years at LBSU, Rocha had 63 singles and 80 doubles victories.
“It’s been a great experience,” Rocha said. “I’m sad and happy. I have enjoyed my time here, but now it’s time to move on.”
Porsz’s singles match was the last one to finish up on the day, as Porsz beat UCSB’s Bryanna Ojeda 6-2 and 7-5. In her three years at LBSU, Porsz had 49 singles and 48 doubles wins.
“It’s a little sad,” Porsz said about her last match at LBSU. “I’ve spent three years of my life here and it’s been great.”
The 49ers will now turn their focus to the Big West Tournament, which LBSU has won the last three years and four of the last five.
LBSU has been dominate in its six conference wins this year, winning 41 of a possible 42 points in those matches.
The only blemish on the 49ers’ Big West record was when they traveled to play UC Irvine on March 1. The Anteaters won that match 4-3 and will be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. Even with the loss, the 49ers still see themselves as the team to beat.
“Ever since I have been here, we have always done well in the conference tournament,” Rocha said. “It’s our turf, and I think I we can win it again.”
