Fifth-seeded UC Santa Barbara was forced to work overtime in its Big West Tournament first round match against fourth-seeded Cal Poly on Friday, but the end result made it worthwhile as the Gauchos advanced to the second round with a 4-3 win.
The match took nearly five and a half hours and it ended when Paola Cos, playing No. 4, defeated the Mustangs’ Kathryn Webb 7-6, 5-7, 5-3 (ret.). The win sends UCSB into a second round match-up with top-seeded Long Beach State. That contest will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning in Indian Wells.
“Today was an outstanding battle,” said Interim Head Coach Charlotte Scatliffe. “The top-two singles were very impressive with firey, aggressive plays. We showed so much heart and fight at No. 3 and No. 4. I was so happy that we showed no let-up the entire match, even after losing the doubles point. With the help of parents, fans and our spirited men’s team, we had no choice but to leave today with the W.”
Cal Poly earned the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. At No. 1, Alexa Lee and Jocelyn Davis beat Natalia Lozano and Jordan Dockendorf, 8-6, while at No. 3 Gabby Gatewood and Jennifer Cornea topped April Scatliffe and Casey Reede, 8-5. Sofia Novak and Erica Cano fought to a 9-7 win over Kathryn Webb and ane McPike at No. 2.
In singles, Lozano was the first off the court with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Davis at No. 2. The Mustangs reclaimed a 2-1 lead when Ireen Kuipers swept Cano at No. 6, 6-3, 6-4.
That’s when things got interesting.
Gatewood swept Dockendorf at No. 5 to give her team a 3-1 win, but the Gaucho senior made her work, especially in a marathon first set, 7-6 (17), 6-3.
UCSB proceeded to win the next three singles matches. At No. 1, Novak beat Lee, 6-4, ,3-6, 6-1, edging the Gauchos closer at 3-2. Scatliffe came back from one set down to beat Cornea at No. 3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, tying the score and setting the stage for Cos’ win at No. 4.
The victory improves UCSB’s overall record to 11-13 while Cal Poly’s season ends with a 10-11 mark.
RESULTS:
Singles
No. 1 – Sofia Novak (UCSB) d. Alexa Lee (CP) – 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
No. 2 – Natalia Lozano (UCSB) d. Jocelyn Davis (CP) – 6-4, 6-2
No. 3 – April Scatliffe (UCSB) d. Jennifer Cornea (CP) – 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 – Paola Cos (UCSB) d. Kathryn Webb (CP) – 6-3, 5-7, 5-3 (ret.)
No. 5 – Gabby Gatewood (CP) d. Jordan Dockendorf (UCSB) – 7-6 (17), 6-3
No. 6 – Ireen Kuipers (CP) d. Erica Cano (UCSB) – 6-3, 6-4
Order of finish: 2, 6, 5, 1, 3, 4
Doubles
No. 1 – Lee/Davis (CP) d. Lozano/Dockendorf (UCSB) – 8-6
No. 2 – Novak/Cano (UCSB) d. Webb/Ane McPike (CP) – 9-7
No. 3 – Gatewood/Cornea (CP) d. Scatliffe/Casey Reede (UCSB) – 8-5
