By Jeff McAlpine, On-line Forty-Niner
April 21, 1997
The Cal State Long Beach women's tennis team fought hard but came up just short against Loyola Marymount Wednesday at the CSULB tennis courts. Loyola edged the 49ers 5-4 in the nine-match contest.
49er top-seeded player Jing Chen was impressive, topping Loyola's Mara Colaizzi 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. Chen improved her record to a team-leading 19-2.
49er second-seed player Amanda Parson came up short in a grueling match against Loyola's Laura Gross. Parson won the first game 6-2, but Gross came back strong and took the second two games 7-6, 7-5.
In the third-seed game, Loyola's Dianne Asis defeated Janina Kisic of CSULB 6-0, 6-2.
Chen and Parson teamed together in double's play and defeated Loyola's Colaizzi and Anna Zaricki in the No.1 doubles match. The tandem improved their record to 8-3.
In other doubles competition, CSULB's Andrea Avent and Veronica Selby were defeated by Loyola's Laura Gross and Lia Bunker.
Other 49er victories included 5th-seeded Judy Esmero who defeated Lia Bunker 6-3, 6-2. 49er Veronica Selby was not as fortunate losing to Loyola's Amy Labetich.
The 49ers will prepare for the Big West tournament which begins April
23 in Ojai. The team will finish its regular season against Cal Poly San
Luis Obispo next week.