By snoadmin
Head coach Jenny Hilt-Costello and the Long Beach State women’s tennis team will sure hope that the third time’s a charm in Westwood.
The No. 41-ranked 49ers (19-6), the Big West Conference champions, will compete at UCLA against No. 28-ranked and Sun Belt Conference champion Denver (22-2) Friday at 10 a.m.
LBSU, coming off its sixth consecutive Big West title, has been winless at UCLA during NCAA Tournament play. The 49ers fell to UCLA 4-0 in 2004 and Washington 4-0 in 2005. Despite earning their first postseason victory in 2006 against New Mexico, the 49ers have a 1-4 overall record in the NCAA Tournament, but have more postseason experience than their opponent.
The Pioneers, which dethroned three-time champion Florida International to win their first Sun Belt title since 2004, have only seen the NCAA Tournament one other time in their history. Denver fell to Michigan 4-1 in 2004. Its 20-2 finish that year was its best in the program’s Division I history until this year.
The disparity in records shouldn’t fool anyone. The Beach played five teams ranked in the top-30 nationally and have a better record against common opponents (3-1) than Denver (2-2), whose only losses of the season came against teams the 49ers have seen this season.
Both lost to No. 16-ranked Fresno State this season, but the 49ers defeated No. 54-ranked St. Mary’s 6-1, while the Pioneers dropped a 4-3 decision to the Gaels. Denver, meanwhile, only faced one team ranked in the nation’s top-30 this season.
LBSU’s other victories over similar opponents were 7-0 wins over Nevada and conference foe Cal Poly. The Pioneers defeated Nevada 4-3 and Cal Poly 6-1. Hilt-Costello was more than pleased with the team’s chances in the match, considering the 49ers’ performance at the Big West Tournament.
“I like the draw,” Hilt-Costello said. “I think the team is improving on through the season. We didn’t drop a match in singles or doubles [at the Big West Tournament], so I think we did a great job.”
Denver is led by No. 65-ranked, junior Mallory Voelker, who has a 31-6 singles mark this season. Two other players have 30-win records – junior Annette Aksdal and sophomore Julia Bauregger with 30-8 marks. This young Pioneer team is extremely talented across the roster in singles play, as sophomore Ute Schnoy (27-13 in singles), freshman Bhavani Tirumurti (25-7) and junior Kyla Iwinski (21-11) will be equal threats to a 49er lineup that has a senior advantage.
Stephanie Bengson, one of two seniors for the 49ers, is 21-11 this season and is the school’s career leader in singles wins with 73. Nicknamed “Banger”, the senior is also one win shy of setting the LBSU career record in combined victories, as she sits tied with Sandra Rocha with 147.
LBSU’s Top Singles Players
Hannah Grady (junior): 26-9 overall, 17-7 in dual play (spring season)
Deborah Armstrong (freshman): 23-15 overall, 14-9 in dual play
Stephanie Bengson (senior): 21-11 overall, 16-6 in dual play
LBSU’s Top Doubles Teams
Bengson/Grady: 21-8 overall, 16-6 in dual play
Armstrong/ Lisa Sutton: 19-4 overall/dual play
Stephanie Jeanes/ Jessica Weeks: 17-6 overall/dual play
