ROHNERT PARK, Calif- The duo of Stephanie Hoffmire and Brooke McBride improved to 4-2 as doubles partners, earning an 8-5 decision, but despite hard-fought play by Sonoma State, 15th-ranked Grand Canyon pulled out an 8-1 match victory on Thursday at the SSU Tennis Courts. The Seawolves, ranked 49th in the nation, falls to 7-4. The Antelopes improve to 12-2.

Hoffmire and McBride gave the Seawolves some hope with the 8-5 win at No. 3 doubles, as SSU trailed 2-1 heading into the singles competition.

Dana Carollo took the first set at No. 1 singles, but Grand Canyon's Katharina Mittag earned a 6-3 win in the second set and took the tiebreaker (10-2) to complete the comeback win. Megan White played close with Stephanie Haldeman, but Haldeman got the victory in straight sets (7-6, 6-3). Haley Hickock also played one of the toughest matches of the afternoon at No. 4, eventually losing (6-4, 7-6 (3)).

The loss snapped a three-match win streak for the Seawolves.

Sonoma State will hit the road for its next two matches, beginning with a contest at Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday in Turlock. Weather permitting, first serve is scheduled for 12 p.m.

#15 Grand Canyon 8, #49 Sonoma State 1
Mar 17, 2011 at Rohnert Park, Calif. (SSU Tennis Courts)

Singles competition
1. Katharina Mittag (GCU) def. Dana Carollo (SSU) 3-6, 6-3, 10-2
2. Cecilia Vergnet (GCU) def. Anastasia Eliseeva (SSU) 6-0, 6-2
3. Stephanie Haldeman (GCU) def. Megan White (SSU) 7-6, 6-3
4. Marie Vanlerenberghe (GCU) def. Haley Hickock (SSU) 6-4, 7-6 (3-0)
5. F. Van de Valde (GCU) def. Brooke McBride (SSU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Chloe Cornille (GCU) def. Stephanie Hoffmire (SSU) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Vergnet/F. Van de Valde (GCU) def. Eliseeva/White (SSU) 8-3
2. Haldeman/Mittag (GCU) def. Carollo/Hickock (SSU) 8-3
3. Hoffmire/McBride (SSU) def. Vanlerenberghe/Knopf (GCU) 8-5

Match Notes
Grand Canyon 12-2; National ranking #15; Regional ranking #3
Sonoma State 7-4; National ranking #49; Regional ranking #6