BOX SCORE

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. — Playing in its first competitive match since March 10, a rusty Dominican University of California women's tennis team was victorious on Sunday in the top matches but couldn't match the depth or game experience of Sonoma State in a 6-3 road loss.

“All things considered, it was an overall good performance,” said Head Coach Greg Kennett.

Sophomore Irina Morozova and junior Gaby Verspieren, Dominican's No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, won their matches. Morozova improved her season's record to 5-4 by beating SSU sophomore Megan White 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. Verspieren snapped a three-match losing streak and avenged a 6-7, 2-6 loss to sophomore Krista Cole on Feb. 4 by outlasting the Seawolves' No. 2 player  6-4, 3-6, 6-0 on Sunday.

“Gaby has improved a lot,” Kennett said. “She has kept a steady work ethic all season and this match showed it.”

Morozova and Verspieren also broke a three-match losing streak as Dominican's No. 1 doubles team, edging White and Cole 8-6.

The best match of the day, however, may have been at No. 4 singles where Dominican senior Jamie Fernandez threatened to end the four-match winning streak of Sonoma State's Stephanie Hoffmire before bowing 7-5, 4-6, 10-5.

The team dual match loss dropped Dominican's overall season record to 2-9. The Lady Seawolves, ranked No. 43 in the nation and eighth in the West Region, are 12-11.

The Lady Penguins had not competed in a match since they played Academy of Art University on March 10. All five of their scheduled matches had been postponed or cancelled because of inclement weather since that date. Sonoma State, during that period of time, managed to play 11 matches.

Dominican's competition will get even stiffer. On Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. at the College of Marin courts in Kentfield, the Lady Penguins will host Grand Canyon University, the 13th ranked team in the country in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings in NCAA Division II.

Then, on Thursday, Dominican will host the first day of the three-day Pacific West Conference Women's Tennis Championships at the Marin Tennis Club in San Rafael.  The Lady Penguins' quarterfinal opponent on Thursday could be undefeated BYU-Hawaii, nine-time national champion and currently the No. 1 ranked ITA team in the nation in NCAA Div. II.