UCSD’s Behrens Advances to Women’s Tennis Final

Christine Behrens of UC San Diego won two matches Friday to advance to the NCAA Division III women’s tennis championships final at Atlanta.

Behrens defeated Anne Williams of Franklin and Marshall (Pa.), 6-2, 6-0, in the quarterfinals and then beat second-seeded Lynn Greer of Whitman College (Wash.), 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the semifinals.

Behrens will meet Carolyn Bodart of Menlo College, who upset top-seeded Julie Harvanik of Trenton State, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4, in the semifinals.

Point Loma Nazarene College trails Westmont by a point entering the finals of the NAIA District III women’s tennis championships at Biola College.

The Crusaders’ Melinda Ainslie meets Carolyn Clayton of Westmont in the singles final. Ainslie and Traci Reynolds meet Clayton and Raquel Philips for the doubles title.

Westmont has 16 points and the Crusaders have 15.

SOFTBALL

UC San Diego split two games at the NCAA Division III West Regional at Decorah, Iowa, with a 3-2 loss to St. Thomas College (Minn.) and a 2-1 victory over host Luther College.

UCSD scored in the bottom of the seventh to eliminate Luther from the double elimination tournament.

The Tritons, seeded second, meet third-seeded St. Thomas again today. The winner will face undefeated and top-seeded Central College of Iowa.

TRACK AND FIELD

Point Loma Nazarene entered the final day with a four-point lead over Azusa Pacific in the NAIA District III women’s track and field championships at Santa Barbara City College.

Azusa Pacific has won every district title since the event began in 1982. Point Loma Nazarene has finished second every year except 1986.

PLNC has 59 points and Azusa Pacific has 55. Westmont is third with 29 points.

The Crusaders built its lead despite not having a single winner in six events Friday. Eva Lindblad was second in the 5,000 meters in 19:37.4 and Connie Navarro was second in the 100 meters (12.54) to lead the Crusaders.

Azusa Pacific leads the men’s championships with 61 points. PLNC is second with 29 and Cal Lutheran is third with 26.

MEN’S TENNIS

Hans Hoegstedt defeated Paavo Salmi of Cal Lutheran, 6-3, 6-2, to move into the final against Trus Midtbo, also of Cal Lutheran.

Cal Lutheran has clinched the team title with 21 points and Point Loma Nazarene is second with 11.