For the fifth consecutive year, and the sixth time in the past seven seasons, Long Beach State’s women’s tennis team was crowned the Big West Conference champion.
The No. 39-ranked 49ers (19-6) swept No. 57 UC Irvine (16-9) 4-0 in the championship match of the Big West Tournament in Indian Wells Sunday, as senior Stephanie Bengson tied the LBSU record for combined wins.
Bengson tied Sandra Rocha’s 147 wins with a 6-3 and 6-1 win over senior Inna Agababian in singles play. She also teamed with junior Hannah Grady, who are ranked No. 56 nationally, to sweep Agababian and senior Becky Bernhard in doubles action, 8-0.
The 49er freshman doubles tandem of Deborah Armstrong and Lisa Sutton defeated Ali Borowicz and Jessica Broadfoot 8-2.
LBSU freshman Stephanie Jeanes won 7-6 and 6-3 over Brooke Bartlett, while Armstrong concluded the sweep with a 7-5 and 6-4 victory over junior Clare Fermin.
Pairing for the NCAA Tournament will be announced Tuesday at 11 a.m. on ESPNEWS, and the individual singles and doubles pairings will be announced Wednesday on ncaasports.com.
