The No.-1 ranked Emory University Women's Tennis team was handed its second loss of the season Friday night, dropping a close 5-4 decision against Division II UC – San Diego in La Jolla, California.
The Eagles opened the match by taking the first doubles match in commanding fashion. Senior Katarina Su and junior Bridget Harding claimed their sixth straight win, downing the Triton's top doubles duo 8-1 to improve to 18-2 overall including a perfect 6-0 mark in dual matches. UCSD answered by winning the final two doubles matches by 8-5 and 8-3 margins to head into singles play in front 2-1.
Emory got off to a quick start in singles as Su and senior Paula Castro put the team in front 3-2 by winning the fourth and sixth singles matches. Su and Castro both earned straight set victories. Su topped Jasmine Hosseini 6-3, 6-1 with Castro besting Valerie Corral in 6-4, 6-1.
The Tritons however closed out the match on a strong note, taking the three of the final four singles matches to seal the win. After UCSD recorded wins on court two and five, Harding defeated Britta Mosser in three sets 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. The match came down to court three between sophomore Daniela Lopez and UCSD's Becky Chou. Chou posted a 6-4 score in the first set before Lopez responded with a 7-6 (6) in set two. In the final set, Chou edged Lopez in another tightly contested set, 7-5, to give the Tritons the victory.
Emory returns to the courts next Sunday, March 18th, on the road against the University of Richmond before squaring off against Williams College in a NCAA title rematch on Monday, March 20th at Mary Washington University.