By snoadmin
Just in case anyone forgot, the Long Beach State women’s tennis team reminded everyone that they are still the rulers of the Big West Conference.
The 49ers came into the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed, but they were No. 1 at the end of the tournament, beating No. 5-seeded Cal Poly 4-0 in the championship match Sunday morning in Indian Wells, Calif.
LBSU has now won four straight conference tournaments (2003-06) and won five of the last six. The NCAA Tournament pairings will be announced on Tuesday afternoon, and LBSU will find out who they will meet in the first round.
The 49ers made it to the championship match by first beating Cal State Fullerton, 6-0, in the quarterfinals Friday, and then beating Cal State Northridge 4-0 in the semifinals on Saturday.
The No. 1 seed in the tournament, UC Irvine, was upset in the semifinals, losing its first Big West match of the year to Cal Poly. But the 49ers ended the Mustangs’ Cinderella run, as LBSU beat Cal Poly in the two doubles matches and in straight sets in the three single matches.
In doubles Sunday, LBSU’s Stephanie Bengson and partner Katy Williams won 8-2 and the tandem of Sandra Rocha and Rachel Porsz won 8-5.
Then in singles, Hannah Grady (6-1, 7-5), Williams (7-5, 7-5) and Porsz (6-3, 6-2) clinched the title by wining their matches.
