SAN DIEGO – USD women's tennis kicked off West Coast Conference play with a bang on Sunday, topping No. 65 LMU 5-2 at Hogan Tennis Center.
 
The Toreros set the tone from the get-go, particularly the doubles pairing on court three, juniors Charlotte Keitel and Kristina Nordikyan, teaming up for the first time and flashing out to a 6-1 win.
 
On main court, the sophomore tandem of Hannah Read and Anni Moll combined for a 6-3 win to the doubles point for the Toreros.
 
Read carried her momentum over into singles, where she entered her match on court three ranked No. 121 nationally. The St. Albans, England native was quickly victorious in just over an hour, 6-1, 6-2 to double USD's lead.
 
It would be a while – almost an hour later – before the next match would finish, as the other five matches would go to five sets and the Lions claimed a point back with a win at No. 4 singles.
 
The Toreros on the last two courts answered back, however, after dropping their first sets, claiming the second and dominating the deciding third. First, it was freshman Ines Leon who responded for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 win, then Moll followed suit, rallying for a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 comeback to clinch the match.
 
The remaining courts would play out as freshman Vilma Krebs Hyllested won 18 total games with another three-set comeback, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-2. USD was on the wrong side of a third set tiebreaker on main court, settling the final score at 5-2.  
 
Up Next
The Toreros head to Portland on Sunday, March 22 for the conference road opener, first serve vs. the Pilots set for 10 a.m. PST.
 
Results
#37 San Diego 5, #65 LMU 2
 
Doubles
1. Anni Moll/Hannah Read (USD) def. Ada Piestrzynska/Anastasia Bozova (LMU) 6-3
2. Vilma KrebsHyllested/Maria Shmakova (USD) vs. Lidia Gonzalez/Sofia Perovani (LMU) 3-5, unfinished
3. Kristina Nordikyan/Charlotte Keitel (USD) def. Kim-Michaela Zahraj/Helene Schnack (LMU) 6-1
 
Singles
1. Lidia Gonzalez (LMU) def. Charlotte Keitel (USD) 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Vilma KrebsHyllested (USD) def. Ada Piestrzynska (LMU) 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-2
3. #121 Hannah Read (USD) def. Anastasia Bozova (LMU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Kim-Michaela Zahraj (LMU) def. Maria Shmakova (USD) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
5. Ines Leon (USD) def. Helene Schnack (LMU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
6. Anni Moll (USD) def. Sofia Perovani (LMU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-2
Match Notes:
Loyola Marymount 5-7; National ranking #65
San Diego 6-7; National ranking #37
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (3,4,5,2,6,1)