MALIBU, Calif. – Down 3-1 in the dual, Sun Devil Women’s Tennis won the last three singles matches in three sets to notch the upset over No. 15 Pepperdine, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center in Malibu, California.
The victory marks the first time the Sun Devils (5-2) have defeated the Waves (3-2) in Malibu since a 6-1 win came on Feb. 3, 2002, and it marks head coach Jamea Jackson’s second win over a top-20 opponent.
Graduate Vivian Ovrootsky helped ASU get its first point with a 6-1, 6-2 straight-sets win over Chantal Suvan from the third position. The victory moved the California native to 5-0 this dual season, with four wins coming from the No. 3 spot in the lineup.
No. 16 Emilija Tverijonaite dropped her opening set to No. 49 Ziva Falkner, 5-7. But responded with a 7-5 win in the second set to extend the match. After dropping the first three games in the third set, she rattled off six straight games to give the Sun Devils their second point.
The win is Tverijonaite’s third ranked win this dual season and her 30th career singles dual victory.
Sophomore Lily Taylor responded after dropping her opening set with a 6-4 win in the second set. Then, she broke serve to stay in the match down 5-4 in the third set and won the next three games to win 7-5, to secure ASU’s third point of the match.
Freshman Sarang Lim cruised to a 6-3, second-set win to force the decisive third set. Then, in the tiebreaker facing match point, down 8-9, she rattled off three-straight points to win, 11-9, to seal the victory for the Sun Devils.
Arizona State will head south to play in the Red and Blue Invite hosted by Arizona beginning Friday, Feb. 20-21 at LaNelle Robson Tennis Center, though a time to be announced.
Arizona State 4, #15 Pepperdine 3
Doubles results
Vivian Ovrootsky/Emilija Tverijonaite (ASU) vs. Sonja Zhienbayeva/Ziva Falkner (PEPP) - 5-3 (Unfinished)
2. Chantal Sauvant/Alexia Harmon (PEPP) def. Lily Taylor/Karsyn Evans (ASU) - 6-2
3. Duru Soke/Shihomi Leong (PEPP) def. Sara Svetac/Aiya Nupbay (ASU) - 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 2
Singles results
1. #16 Emilija Tverijonaite (ASU) def. #49 Ziva Falkner (PEPP) - 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
2. Sonja Zhienbayeva (PEPP) def. Sara Svetac - 6-4, 7-6 (6)
3. Vivian Ovrootsky (ASU) def. Chantal Sauvan (PEPP) - 6-1, 6-2
4. Lily Taylor (ASU) def. Alexia Harmon (PEPP) - 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
5. Duru Soke (PEPP) def. Karsyn Evans (ASU - 6-1, 6-1
6. Sarang Lim (ASU) def. Shihomi Leong (PEPP) - 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (9)
Order of finish: 5, 3, 2, 1, 4, 6
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