UCR women’s tennis team claimed its first victory of the season after defeating CSU Bakersfield at the SRC courts. The Highlanders opened the season with a hard defeat against San Diego State, but were looking to amend their last performance when they hosted CSUB.
The Highlanders took the first point of the afternoon after winning two of the three matches in doubles. UCR’s pair of Jamie Raney and Taylor Raney played outstanding tennis and in an uncontested match swept CSUB’s Veronica Dimas and Charlotte Hughes by 8-0.
The other doubles matches of the afternoon were fought to the last point; both games had to be settled by tie breaks. UCR’s Kat Saltarelli and Natalie Mckay claimed the doubles point for the Highlanders after winning the second match against CSUB’s Estefania Limpias and Nelli Buiuklianova by 9-7; it was a tight match where both teams traded points back and forth, but it was UCR’s resiliency which got the decisive points in the tie break. The third doubles match of the afternoon was won by CSUB by 9-7. Again, it was necessary to settle it by a tie break; this time the Roadrunners got the winner.
Singles action was no different with the Highlanders performing top tennis. UCR won five of the six points in play. The Roadrunners’ lone point was obtained through a victory by Julian Mannix who defeated UCR’s Kate Bergeson by 6-3, 6-3. UCR’s Taylor Raney and Jamie Raney complemented their doubles performance with victories over CSUB’s Nancy Ramirez and Veronica Dimas by 6-1, 6-3 and 6-0, 6-2, respectively. Other results included UCR’s Kat Saltarelli defeating CSUB’s Estefania Limpias in a tight game by 6-2, 5-7 (10-4) and UCR’s Natalie Mckay defeating Daniela Dimas by 6-1, 6-0. Next, the women’s tennis will host Gonzaga on Feb.10 at the Student Recreation Center.
