LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Tennis team began their season on the road but were unable to overcome No. 19 USC, falling 4-1 at Marks Tennis Stadium on Tuesday. 

THE MATCH
Final: UC Santa Barbara 1, No. 19 USC 4
Records: UC Santa Barbara (0-1), No. 19 USC (1-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Blue and Gold faced early adversity in doubles and were unable to take the doubles point. At the No. 1 position, Emma Tutoveanu and Lily Pradkin battled the No. 6-ranked duo and were fighting to stay in the match while trailing 5-4. The first match to finish came at the second position doubles, where Raphaelle Leroux and Ekua Youri competed closely with the No. 51 Trojan pair of Jana Hossam and Krisha Mahendran before falling 6-4. The doubles point was ultimately clinched by Emma Charney and Eugenia Zozaya, who edged out a tight 7-5 victory.

In singles play, USC extended its lead with wins across multiple courts, while the Gauchos showed resilience in several tightly contested matches. At the top of the lineup, No. 16 Jana Hossam defeated Ekua Youri 6-4, 6-1. Raphaelle Leroux fell at the No. 4 position to No. 62 Eugenia Zozaya, who earned a 6-0, 6-1 victory, while Simone Kay secured a straight-sets win over My-Anh Holmes at No. 6, 6-3, 7-5.

UC Santa Barbara picked up its lone singles point at No. 5, where Lily Pradkin delivered a strong performance, defeating Dani Borruel swiftly 6-2, 6-2. Two additional matches were left unfinished after the overall result was decided. At No. 2, nationally ranked No. 12 Emma Charney was locked in a battle with Isabella Wong, with Wong taking the first set 6-4 before the match was stopped. At No. 3, Emma Tutoveanu and No. 74 Krisha Mahendran split the opening two sets evenly at 6-3 each before play was suspended in their third set.

RESULTS
Doubles
1. Emma Tutoveanu/Lily Pradkin (UCSB) vs. #6 Lily Fairclough/Dani Borruel (USC) 4-5, unfinished
2. #51 Jana Hossam/Krisha Mahendran (USC) def. Raphaelle Leroux/Ekua Youri
(UCSB) 6-4
3. Emma Charney/Eugenia Zozaya (USC) def. My-Anh Holmes/Isabella Wong (UCSB) 7-5

Order of finish: 2, 3

Singles
1. #16 Jana Hossam (USC) def. Ekua Youri (UCSB) 6-4, 6-1
2. Isabella Wong (UCSB) vs. #12 Emma Charney 6-4, 5-6, unfinished 
3.  Emma Tutoveanu (UCSB) vs. #74 Krisha Mahendran (USC) 3-6, 6-3, 1-2, unfinished
4. #62 Eugenia Zozaya (USC) def. Raphaelle Leroux (UCSB) 6-0, 6-1
5. Lily Pradkin (UCSB) def. Dani Borruel (USC) 6-2, 6-2
6. Simone Kay (USC) def. My-Anh Holmes (UCSB) 6-3, 7-5

Order of finish: 4, 1, 5, 6

UP NEXT
The Gauchos return home eager to get back on track against Utah on Jan. 18 at 11 a.m.