SAN FRANCISCO — The University of San Francisco got a big West Coast Conference win Thursday to even their conference record, edging visiting Saint Mary's in the final singles match, 4-3, at the Goldman Tennis Center in Golden Gate Park.
 
Arianna Capogrosso clinched the team victory for the Dons (8-4, 1-1 WCC) with a three-set, come-from-behind win at No. 5 singles. She dropped the first set to Saint Mary's Jocelyn Massey, 6-2, then grinded out a tiebreaker, 7-6(4), win in set two to send it to a third set. There, she kept the momentum going and cruised to a 6-1 win in set three, clinching both her match and the team victory.
 
"This was nice win for our program against an upper echelon team in our conference," said San Francisco head coach Peter Bartlett. "It was a hard-fought match with Ari Capogrosso finally clinching the final singles point for us. We definitely showed some grit today. It took a team effort and focused singles play to get the victory. Each conference opponent is going to be tough and we expect more close matches."
 
The Dons dropped the doubles point and the No. 1 singles match to fall behind early, 2-0. Chiho Mushika got USF on the board with a clean, 6-0, 6-0, sweep of Gabriela Tevez at No. 4 singles. Harris beat Mya Bui, 6-2, 6-3, at No. 2 singles to give the Gaels a 3-1 match lead and on the verge of a victory, but three consecutive wins at No. 6, 3 and 5 singles brought the Dons back for the win.
 
Caragh Courtney beat Ville, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 6 singles, followed by Capogrosso's thrilling comeback to clinch the match.
 
San Francisco next hosts Pacific on Saturday at the Olympic Club.
 
San Francisco 4, Saint Mary's 3
San Francisco – Goldman Tennis Center
April 1, 2021
 
Singles
1. Mariia Kozyreva (SMC) def. Maria Martinez Vaquero (USF), 6-0, 6-0
2. Jordan Harris (SMC) def. Mya Bui (USF), 6-2, 6-3
3. Rita Colyer (USF) def. Danielle McIntyre (SMC), 6-3, 7-6(5)
4. Chiho Mushika (USF) def. Gabriela Tevez (SMC), 6-0, 6-0
5. Arianna Capogrosso (USF) def. Jocelyn Massey (SMC), 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-1
6. Caragh Courtney (USF) def. Aubane Ville, 6-2, 6-2
 
Order of finish: 1, 4, 2, 6, 3, 5*
 
Doubles
1. Kozyreva/McIntyre (SMC) def. Bui/Courtney (USF), 6-2
2. Capogrosso/Colyer (USF) def. Massey/Ville (SMC), 6-2
3. Harris/Tevez (SMC) def. Martinez Vaquero/Mushika (USF), 7-6
 
Order of finish: Doubles 1, 2, 3*