COSTA MESA, Calif. - The No. 17 UC San Diego women's tennis team took down Vanguard University Thursday, 6-3, as the Tritons won four of six singles matches and two of the three doubles match-ups.

With the win, UCSD improved its record to 3-4 on the season. Vanguard, ranked 11th in the NAIA, fell to 2-4.

UCSD's Tara Vanooteghem and Melinda Chu defeated Vanguard's Ekaterina Gabashvili and Gabriele Alford, 8-2, at No. 2 and Katie Mulloy and Samantha Yeung downed opponents Ashley Tebeau and Petronella Lindahl, 8-1, at No. 3 doubles.

Mulloy was the top performer for the Tritons, winning her doubles contest and shutting out Gabriele Alford at No. 4 singles.

UCSD's Melinda Chu, Tara Vanooteghem, and Krystal Mizuguchi also had wins in singles play. At No. 2, Chu handily beat Vanguard's Nina Pudar, 6-4, 6-2.

"After making some improvements at practice this week, we saw some good results today," UCSD head coach Liz LaPlante said. "We hope to continue that into the weekend against Cal State L.A."

The Tritons return home Saturday for the start of a six-match home streak as they take on Cal State L.A. at 11 a.m.

No. 17 UCSD 6, Vanguard 1
February 23, 2012
Costa Mesa Tennis Center
Costa Mesa, Calif.

Doubles
Gabriela Bergmanova/Nina Pudar (VUSC) def. Melissa Breisacher/Jacquelyn Davis (UCSD) 8-4
Tara Vanooteghem/Melinda Chu (UCSD) def. Ekaterina Gabashvili/Gabriele Alford (VUSC) 8-2
Katie Mulloy/Samantha Yeung (UCSD) def. Ashley Tebeau/Petronella Lindahl (VUSC) 8-1

Singles
Gabriela Bergmanova (VUSC) def. Melissa Breisacher (UCSD) 6-0, 6-3
Melinda Chu (UCSD) def. Nina Pudar (VUSC) 6-4, 6-2
Ekaterina Gabashvili (VUSC) def. Samantha Yeung (UCSD) 7-6, 6-2
Katie Mulloy (UCSD) def. Gabriele Alford (VUSC) 6-0, 6-0
Tara Vanooteghem (UCSD) def. Petronella Lindahl (VUSC) 6-2, 6-3
Krystal Mizuguchi (UCSD) def. Ashley Tebeau (VUSC) 6-0, 6-2

- UCSDtritons.com -