The Cal State LA Golden Eagles got off to a hot start, taking 2 of 3 doubles matches to begin Thursday afternoon, but fell short overall in the deciding score 3-4 against the Point Loma Sea Lions. No. 2 doubles team Amanda Schneider and Chelsea Ruiz sped through the set, winning 6-0 against Point Loma’s Shelby Groeneveld and Michelle Torres. No. 3 doubles teams of Berta Acero Garcia and Mariko Sagara hung tough as they won 7-5 over Taylor McGowan and Nicole Camaratta. Despite being up a break and holding match points, No. 1 doubles team Isabella Lopez and Luciana di Laura fell short against Point Loma’s Ellie Gamble and Gabi Armas, 6-7.

Despite the rainouts the past couple days, No. 1 doubles of Lopes and di Laura broke right away and took a commanding lead in the fifth game making it 4-1. Lopez and di Laura were serving for the match for the first time at 5-4 and were broken back as Point Loma held strong at 5-5.

“We usually have good energy, but we definitely felt a change in something. I don’t know if was maybe something like nerves,” said Lopez.

“They also picked up their game as well,” said di Laura echoing Lopez’s comments about the change of level during their doubles match.

Point Loma took all the momentum into a deciding tiebreak up 4-2. Lopez and di Laura showed poise, as they would get back to even score at 6 all.

“Tennis is about moments, so it just changed, we were playing one point at a time,” said di Luara.

After over an hour of play, Lopez and di Laura both held and saved match points. After an intense fifteenth game, Point Loma prevailed, giving Lopez and di Laura their first loss of the season.

In singles competition, Cal State LA only won 2 of the 6 matches, Groeneveld of Point Loma defeated Amanda Schneider 5-7, 1-6. Armas defeated Golden Eagles’ Acero Garcia 1-6, 2-6, Lopez defeated Sea Lions’ McGowan coming from 1 set down 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Ruiz defeated Torres 6-2, 6-3. Sagara fell short 2-6, 5-7.

Looking ahead Golden Eagles’ women’s tennis (1-1) travel to Azusa Pacific to take on the Cougars(0-1), and the women are ready.

“That’s the school we want, for sure. It’s going to be a really good match. Tough one, but I think we got it,” said Lopez.