Box Score

The LMU women's tennis team (0-1) opened its spring schedule with a 7-0 setback to #14 USC (1-0) on Wednesday at the Manhattan Beach Country Club. The venue proved to be a perfect setting for the two Southern California teams to clash, as nearly 100 fans were in attendance to cheer on the competitors.

"The Manhattan Beach Country Club was a great venue for our match," 40th-year head coach Jamie Sanchez said. "The atmosphere with all the fans made for an exciting and fun match to be a part of."

Competing against the #14 team in the nation, which featured nationally-ranked players in each of the first five singles positions and a former top-20 player at #6 singles after returning from injury, LMU gave a quality effort. While the scores on the first two courts saw the Lions fall, 6-2, 6-4, and 6-3, 6-1, the matches proved a bit closer than at first glance. Playing under the ITA new dual match format, both sophomore Jessica Perez and junior Andrea Crespo saw tie-breaking points go the way of USC.

Under the new format, matches are played with no-ad scoring, resulting in a single tie-breaking point being played once a game reaches Deuce (40-40). Crespo faced three such points in her opening set against #48 Gabby Smith, while Perez suffered a similar fate at #1 singles against #44 Zoë Scandalis.

"I was very pleased with our effort and intensity during the match," Sanchez said. "I feel that this match provided us with experience and competition that will help us as we continue to move toward where we want to be as a team."

LMU will now prepare for its home-opener against UC Riverside on January 22 at 1:30 p.m.

#14 USC 7, LMU 0
Jan 14, 2015 at Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Manhattan Beach Country Club)
Singles Competition
1. #44 Zoë Scandalis (USC) def. Jessica Perez (LMU) 6-2, 6-4
2. #48 Gabby Smith (USC) def. Andrea Crespo (LMU) 6-3, 6-1
3. #45 Madison Westby (USC) def. Ellie Grossman (LMU) 6-1, 6-2
4. #98 Gabriella DeSimone (USC) def. Anna Romeka (LMU) 6-2, 6-2
5. #119 Zoë Katz (USC) def. Lisa Piller (LMU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Sabrina Santamaria (USC) def. Kylie Waschuk (LMU) 6-1, 6-0

Doubles Competition
1. Gabriella DeSimone/Zoë Scandalis (USC) def. Andrea Crespo/Ellie Grossman (LMU) 6-2
2. Zoë Katz/Sabrina Santamaria (USC) def. Jessica Perez/Lisa Piller (LMU) 6-2
3. Gabby Smith/Madison Westby (USC) def. Julia Norlin/Anna Romeka (LMU) 6-0

Match Notes
LMU 0-1
USC 1-0; National ranking #14
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (3,5,6,2,1,4)