CLAREMONT, Calif. — The University of La Verne tennis team was eliminated from the NCAA Regional semifinal by Pomona-Pitzer by a score of 5-2 on Saturday at the Biszantz Family Tennis Center.
Last week, La Verne swept the doubles portion of the SCIAC semifinal match against Pomona-Pitzer on its way to a decisive 7-2 victory. But the tables were turned on the Leopards this time around as the Sagehens used a doubles sweep to punch their tickets to the regional final.
La Verne was down in all three doubles matches last week, but came back to win all of them in tiebreakers. The Leopards couldn't conjure up the same magic on Saturday. Pomona-Pitzer's Claire Willey and Maddie Gordon picked up a quick 8-1 win at No. 3. Andrea Madrigal and Bridget Etchegaray rallied to take a 6-5 lead at No. 2 after falling behind early, but could not sustain the momentum and lost, 8-6. Jeanette Losaria and Laina Matsuda battled to a 6-6 tie after a slow start at No. 1, but Pomona-Pitzer won the last two games to claim the match, 8-6.
Arthi Padmanabhan of Pomona-Pitzer got a quick 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles to give the Sagehens their fourth straight point and put the Leopards in a deeper hole. Lauren Torres stopped the bleeding at No. 6 with a 6-4, 6-3 win and Madrigal beat Mae Coyiuto 6-2, 6-1 at No. 1, but Lea Lynn Yen got the clincher at No. 3 just seconds after Madrigal's winner to seal the win for Pomona-Pitzer.
La Verne wraps up one of its best seasons ever and finishes the year 16-6 overall. The season is not yet over for Madrigal, who will compete in the NCAA Individual Singles Championship from May 22-24. Losaria and Matsuda are the West Region doubles alternates.
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