MALIBU, Calif. – Evgeniya Levashova of the Pepperdine women's tennis team put up a valiant effort in the final of the Oracle/ITA Masters on Sunday afternoon at Malibu Racquet Club, falling just short to Miami's #3 Estela Perez-Somarriba. 
 
The momentum was in #41-ranked Levashova's court to open the match, but the opposition rallied back to take the first set and gathered enough energy to pull ahead early in the second en route to a two-set victory.
 
Levashova highlighted the tournament by beating three top-ranked opponents throughout the weekend, including big wins over #17 Michaela Bayerlova (Washington State) and #18 Kate Fahey (Michigan) to reach the final.
 
RESULTS
Road to the Singles Final
32: #41 Evgeniya Levashova (PEPP) def. Miruna Vasilescu (Akron) – 6-2, 6-1
16: #41 Evgeniya Levashova (PEPP) def. #120 Lisa Marie Rioux (OKSU) – 6-3, 6-1
QF: #41 Evgeniya Levashova (PEPP) def. #17 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) – 6-2, 6-2
SF: #41 Evgeniya Levashova (PEPP) def. #18 Kate Fahey (MICH) – 6-2, 1-6, 6-2            
F: #3 Estela Perez-Somarriba (MIAMI) def. #41 Evgeniya Levashova (PEPP) – 6-4, 6-3

ORACLE/ITA MASTERS
Invitations for the tournament go out to one man and one woman from each NCAA Division I conference to participate.  The singles champions earn automatic entry into the 2018 Oracle ITA National Fall Championships, which will be held November 7-11, in Surprise, Ariz.
 
This is the second year in the four years since the tournament's inception that the Waves have sent a women's competitor to the final.  In 2016, Luisa Stefani did so as a sophomore.
 
ESPNU & LIVE STREAM
In addition to a presence on ESPN3 and the ESPN App during the match today, the matches will also air later on ESPNU on Monday, September 24 at 2 p.m. PT and Tuesday, September 25 at 2 p.m. PT. 
 
NEXT UP
Next, the Waves will take part in the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships during the same time.  After hosting the prequalifying rounds in Malibu from September 29-October 1, before the Waves make the short trip to Pacific Palisades, Calif. for the qualifying round and main draw.
 
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