Box Score IRVINE, Calif. – Unable to upend the tournament favorite to start play at Orange County Great Park, No. 8 seed UC Riverside was defeated by No. 1 seed UC Santa Barbara, 0-4, Thursday in their quarterfinal at the 2021 Big West Tennis Championships.
 
"The team worked hard through the final point in this very challenging year," said head coach Mark Henry, whose UC Riverside squad ends the season at 0-10. The Gauchos improve to 11-3 and move on to face Hawai'i, which advanced to the semifinals with a 4-1 result over UC Davis.
 
The Highlanders were on their heels in Thursday's quarterfinal after two doubles losses sent them into singles under pressure in a win-and-advance format, which increased as Mahli Silpachai lost on Court 2 to Camille Kiss, 0-6 2-6, followed by Natalie Shamma losing, 2-6 2-6, on Court 3 to Shakhnoza Khatamova.
 
On Court 1, senior Tia Elpusan was up a set and fighting Elizaveta Volodko when play was halted at 6-4 2-3; unfortunately, teammate Natalie Shamma had lost to Shakhnoza Khatamova, 2-6 2-6, ending the spring and season for the Highlanders.
 
Elpusan's grit in the face of UCR's fading season was indicative of her leadership and the team's determination to improve.
 
"Tia had an outstanding season," coach Henry said.
 
2021 Big West Tennis Championships
Quarterfinal Results

UC Riverside vs UC Santa Barbara
Apr 29, 2021 at Irvine, CA
(Orange County Great Park)
UC Santa Barbara 4, UC Riverside 0

Singles competition
1. Elizaveta Volodko (UCSB) vs. Tia Elpusan (UCR) 4-6, 3-2, unfinished
2. Camille Kiss (UCSB) def. Mahli Silpachai (UCR) 6-0, 6-2
3. Shakhnoza Khatamova (UCSB) def. Natalie Shamma (UCR) 6-2, 6-2
4. Lise Sentenac (UCSB) vs. Hanh Pham (UCR) 6-1, 4-3, unfinished
5. Kira Reuter (UCSB) vs. Sofia Lazzaroni (UCR) 6-2, 4-1, unfinished
6. Marta Gonzalez-Balbe (UCSB) def. Serina Saltzen (UCR) 6-1, 6-0
 
Doubles competition
1. Elizaveta Volodko/Lise Sentenac (UCSB) def. Tia Elpusan/Hanh Pham (UCR) 4-1
2. Kira Reuter/Shakhnoza Khatamova (UCSB) def. Mahli Silpachai/Natalie Shamma (UCR) 6-1
3. Camille Kiss/Marta Gonzalez-Balbe (UCSB) def. Serina Saltzen/Sydney Tran (UCR) 6-0
 
Match Notes:
UC Riverside 0-10
UC Santa Barbara 11-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (2,6,3)
2021 Big West Women's Tennis Championship Quarterfinals
T-1:25
 
For complete coverage, visit 2021 Big West Tennis Championships Headquarters.