SAN DIEGO – Maria Tyrina provided the clinching point in dramatic fashion to secure No. 37 San Diego's seventh straight victory, defeating Yale 4-3 on Saturday afternoon at the Hogan Tennis Complex.
 
With the match knotted at 3-3, Tyrina defeated the Bulldogs' Kathy Wang in the No. 6 spot, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (9), 6-4, to seal the victory for the Toreros (9-2).
 
It is the 10th victory in the past 11 matches for USD which concluded nonconference play against Yale (5-7).
 
The Toreros took an early 1-0 lead after a tough battle for the doubles point. Yale took the first match at No. 2 but USD's Solymar Colling and Maria-Paula Torres leveled the score with a 7-6 (2) victory at No. 1. Gemma Garcia and Kati Kukaras earned a 7-6 (3) win at No. 3 to secure the doubles point.
 
The lead would not last long as the Bulldogs won the first two singles points at No. 5 and No. 1 to take a 2-1 lead.
 
Daniela Morales leveled the match at 2-2 with a 6-3, 7-5, win at No. 2. The Toreros retook the lead, 3-2, when Kukaras defeated Jessie Gong at No. 4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.
 
Yale leveled the match 3-3 with a victory at No. 3 but Tyrina delivered the final blow to the Bulldogs with a win at No. 6.
 
USD begins conference play next week when it plays host to Portland and Gonzaga.
 
DOUBLES
1. Solymar Colling/Maria-Paula Torres (USD) def. Samantha Martinelli/Jessie Gong (Yale) – 7-6 (2)
2. Caroline Dunleavy/Raissa Lou (Yale) def. Maria Tyrina/Daniela Morales (USD) – 6-3
3. Gemma Garcia/Kati Kukaras (USD) def. Amy Yang/Kathy Wang (Yale) – 7-6 (3)
 
SINGLES
1. Samantha Martinelli (Yale) def. Solymar Colling (USD) – 7-5, 6-4
2. Daniela Morales (USD) def. Caroline Dunleavy (Yale) – 6-3, 7-5
3. Raissa Lou (Yale) def. Gemma Garcia (USD) – 6-2, 5-7, 6-3
4. Kati Kukaras (USD) def. Jessie Gong (Yale) – 3-6, 6-3, 6-1
5. Amy Yang (Yale) def. Maria-Paula Torres (USD) – 6-4, 6-1
6. Maria Tyrina (USD) def. Kathy Wang (Yale) – 7-6 (4), 6-7 (9), 6-4
 
ORDER OF FINISH
Doubles – 2, 1, 3
Singles – 5, 1, 2, 4, 3, 6