FULLERTON, Calif. – The UC Santa Barbara Women's Tennis team battled through a tightly contested road match Sunday afternoon, edging Cal State Fullerton 4-3 at Titan Courts to remain flawless in Big West play.

THE MATCH
Final: #43 UC Santa Barbara 4, Cal State Fullerton 3
Records: #43 UC Santa Barbara (13-8, 7-0 Big West), Cal State Fullerton (12-7, 5-3 Big West)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gauchos opened strong by claiming the doubles point with wins on courts one and three. Caroline Beard and Ekua Youri cruised to a 6-1 victory at the top spot, while My-Anh Holmes and Emma Tutoveanu followed with a 6-4 decision to give UC Santa Barbara the early edge.

Cal State Fullerton opened singles by taking the first two completed matches, picking up straight-set wins on courts two and three to move in front, 2-1. UC Santa Barbara responded on court six, where Caroline Beard put together a steady 7-5, 6-4 performance to even the score.

Shortly after, Ekua Youri regained the lead for the Gauchos with a three-set win on court one, taking the match 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. Fullerton answered again on court four, where Amelia Zylberman came through in three sets to tie the match at 3-3 and leave the result to be decided on the final court.

The match rested upon the results of court five, where freshman My-Anh Holmes delivered under pressure. In a tightly contested match that featured a first-set tiebreak and a back-and-forth second set, Holmes stayed composed to close out a 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-3 win. 

RESULTS
Doubles
1. Caroline Beard/Ekua Youri (UCSB) def. Emilie Lugon-Moulin/Seha Yu (CSUF) 6-1
2. Martina Markov/Dana Kunza (CSUF) vs. Lily Pradkin/Shanelle Iaconi (UCSB) 5-5, unfinished
3. My-Anh Holmes/Emma Tutoveanu (UCSB) def. Milena Gevorgyan/Madison Schwarz (CSUF) 6-4

Order of finish: 1, 3

Singles
1. Ekua Youri (UCSB) def. Martina Markov (CSUF) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
2. Emilie Lugon-Moulin (CSUF) def. Emma Tutoveanu (UCSB) 6-4, 6-1
3. Seha Yu (CSUF) def. Isabella Wong (UCSB) 6-2, 6-4
4. Amelia Zylberman (CSUF) def. Lily Pradkin (UCSB) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
5. My-Anh Holmes (UCSB) def. Milena Gevorgyan (CSUF) 7-6 (8-6), 5-7, 6-3
6. Caroline Beard (UCSB) def. Dana Kunza (CSUF) 7-5, 6-4

Order of finish: 2, 3, 6, 1, 4, 5

UP NEXT
The Blue and Gold return to the Arnhold Tennis Center next Friday, Apr. 18 for their final home match of the regular season against CSUN at 1 p.m.