SANTA CRUZ, Calif-  Thanks to a sweep in doubles, 23rd-ranked UC Santa Cruz was able to hold on and beat Sonoma State 5-4 in front of a raucous crown in Santa Cruz.  The Seawolves won four of the six singles matches, but their furious comeback attempt came up just short as they fall to 6-11 on the season. 

After going down 3-0 in doubles, the Seawolves quickly rebounded an dominated singles play at No. 6 (Peck) and No. 3 (Bulich) to bring the score to 3-2.  After a loss at No. 2 by Casey O'Connor, the Seawolves stayed in the match with a big win by Stephanie Luk at No. 1 over Jessica Ruth, the fifth ranked D-III player in the west.  Luk needed a come-from-behind effort to get the first set with a tiebreaker win.  She dominated in the second, winning 6-2 and taking the match.  With Luk's win, the Seawolves pulled to within one at 4-3. 

With four singles matches done, everyone in attendance was treated to another hour of exciting tennis from the No. 4 and No. 5 matches.  Trailing 5-4 in the third set, Haley Hickock (No. 5) dug deep to go ahead 6-5, earning her first match point.  Her UCSC opponent was able to save the point and force another tiebreaker which Hickock won, tying the match at 4-4. 

In the third set at No. 4 singles, Dana Carollo trailed from the beginning and was down 5-2 before stringing together three tough games and evening the set at five.  After going ahead 6-5, UCSC held six match points which Carollo fought off to battle to a third set tiebreaker.  Again playing from behind, Carollo was able to fight off three more match points before the Banana Slugs finally took control and won the tiebreaker 7-5 and the match 5-4. 


UC Santa Cruz 5, Sonoma State 4

Doubles
1.  Ruth/Megan (UCSC) def. Luk/O'Connor (SSU), 8-1
2.  Furlong/Mannix (UCSC) def. Carollo/Peck (SSU), 9-7
3.  Rowe/Nichol (UCSC) def. Bulich/Hickock (SSU), 8-4

Singles
1.  Luk (SSU) def. Ruth (UCSC), 7-6, 6-2
2.  Sweeney (UCSC) def. O'Connor (SSU), 6-3, 6-1
3.  Bulich (SSU) def. Furlong (UCSC), 6-3, 6-0
4.  Mannix (UCSC) def. Carollo (SSU), 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5)
5.  Hickock (SSU) def. Rowe (UCSC), 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (5)
6.  Peck (SSU) def. Nichol (UCSC), 6-0, 6-0