March 1, 2013

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. -- The No. 11 USC women's tennis team found its winning touch today in a road victory at No. 49 San Diego. The Trojans took down the Toreros with a 5-2 win to improve to 9-2 overall on the year.

The Women of Troy wrapped up the doubles point with authority, sparked by a new pairing at No. 1, where Kaitlyn Christian and Danielle Lao shut out their opponents with an 8-0 sweep. Trojan newcomers Giuliana Olmos and Ellie Yates, meanwhile, took care of business on court three with an 8-2 decision that pocketed the first point of the day for USC. At the No. 2 spot, USC's #25 Gabriella DeSimone and Zoë Scandalis had their match suspended with the Trojans up solidly 6-1.

USC's lift in singles came from senior Danielle Lao and freshman Ellie Yates, whose respective wins on courts one and five got the Trojans ahead 3-0 in the match. Playing in her first career dual match, USC's Jackie Owens came up on the losing end of her No. 6 singles match to surrender a point to the host Toreros. Two Women of Troy were closing in on the clincher, however. #84 Gabriella DeSimone got to the finish line first. Her 6-2, 6-3 win on court two put the win in USC's hands, with the Trojans up 4-1 in the match.

From the No. 5 position, #99 Giuliana Olmos would shrug off a late move by her opponent Shani Blecher in order to bring home the next win for the Trojans. Olmos pulled out a tiebreaker win to decide the second set for a 6-2, 7-6 win that lifted USC ahead 5-1. Soon after that match was done, USC's Kaitlyn Christian would retire from her No. 4 singles match down a set up leading 4-1 in the second, giving San Diego one last point to round out a 5-2 USC victory.

The Women of Troy now return to Los Angeles to prep for a rivalry clash with UCLA. USC will visit the Bruins for a 3 p.m. clash on Friday (March 8) in Westwood.

#11 USC 5, #49 San Diego 2
March 1, 2013 - San Diego, Calif.
DOUBLES
(1) Christian/Lao (USC) def. Depenau/Hoffpauir (USD) - 8-0
(2) #25 DeSimone/Scandalis (USC) vs. Blacher/Claus (USD) - 6-1 susp.
(3) Olmos/Yates (USC) def. Brown/Stojanovic (USD) - 8-2
USC wins doubles point
Order of finish: 1, 3
SINGLES
(1) #7 Danielle Lao (USC) def. Stephanie Hoffpauir (USD) - 6-1, 6-1
(2) #84 Gabriella DeSimone (USC) def. Laura Claus (USD) - 6-2, 6-3*
(3) #99 Giuliana Olmos (USC) def. Shani Blecher (USD) - 6-2, 7-6 (4)
(4) Anna Depenau (USD) def. Kaitlyn Christian (USC) - 6-4, 4-1 ret.
(5) Ellie Yates (USC) def. Marta Stojanovic (USD) - 6-2, 6-1
(6) Cara Brown (USD) def. Jackie Owens (USC) - 6-4, 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 5, 6, 2*, 3, 4