Box Score SAN DIEGO - UC Riverside returned to the court on Saturday afternoon at the Aztec Tennis Center on the campus of San Diego State, falling 4-0 to the Aztecs.
Sofia Lazzaroni and true freshman Niki Shahbazi started the afternoon on a high for UCR, taking the early advantage with a dominant 6-1 win on court three after battling but falling in doubles in last weekend's season opener. The duos of Hanh Pham/Mahli Silpachai and Natalie Shamma/Serina Saltzen went deep into their matches on courts one and two, respectively, before SDSU clinched the doubles point.
The Highlanders struggled in singles play despite standout individual performances. Shamma was down a set but tied 3-3 with her opponent before the match was abandoned, and Lazzaroni found herself up 1-0 in set two looking to tie her match on court four before the match was abandoned. UCR's other unfinished match took place on court six, as Shahbazi held a commanding 3-1 lead in set two with a tied match in her grasp.
UC Riverside begins a seven-match home stand next weekend, welcoming Hope International to the SRC Tennis Courts on Saturday, January 29 at 11:00 a.m.
Doubles
1. Nnena Nadozie / Alicia Melosch (SDSU) def. Hanh Pham / Mahli Silpachai (UCR) – 6-3
2. Tamara Arnold / Julia Jordan (SDSU) def. Natalie Shamma / Serina Saltzen (UCR) – 6-3
3. Niki Shahbazi / Sofia Lazzaroni (UCR) def. Cécile Morin / Alexandria Von Tersch Pohrer (SDSU) – 6-1
Singles
1. Tamara Arnold (SDSU) def. Mahli Silpachai (UCR) – 6-1, 6-2
2. Nnena Nadozie (SDSU) def. Hanh Pham (UCR) – 6-2, 6-3
3. Alicia Melosch (SDSU) vs. Natalie Shamma (UCR) – 6-3, 3-3, not finished
4. Cécile Morin (SDSU) vs. Sofia Lazzaroni (UCR) – 6-4, 0-1, not finished
5. Julia Jordan (SDSU) def. Serina Saltzen (UCR) – 6-2, 6-3
Alexandria Von Tersch Pohrer (SDSU) vs. Niki Shahbazi (UCR) – 6-0, 1-3, not finished
Order of Finish: Doubles (3, 2, 1); Singles (1, 2, 5)
Team Records: San Diego State 2-0, UC Riverside 0-2