By Alex Diaz (@DiazOnSports) Spear Reporter | SJSU sophomore Duru Durgun getting ready for her opponent to serve on March 16. (Photo by Jasmina Lara – Spear Photographer)
San Jose State women’s tennis made its return to the Battle in the Bay Classic for the first time since 2017, stringing together four days of spirited play at the California Tennis Club in San Francisco, Calif.
With four days of competition, the Spartans demonstrated grit, resilience, and flashes of momentum to build upon for its fall season.
In doubles action, sophomore Soledad Fayos Capilla teamed with sophomore Emma Fantousis and pushed University of Arizona’s sophomores Haylee Conway and Zoya Chulak to their limits before falling, 8–5.
Junior Duru Durgun and freshman Tara Mihaljevic partnered on the opposite court, but dropped their opener 8–2 to Cal Poly’s senior Kennedy Buntrock and sophomore Jessica MacCallum.
Singles matches mirrored that intensity.
Durgun traded lengthy rallies with UCSB’s sophomore Emma Tutoveanu but came up just short, 6–4, 6–4. Fayos Capilla faced USC’s sophomore Jana Hossam in a similarly close contest, again edging out a 6–4, 6–4 victory.
The Spartans responded with resilience on Friday.
Durgun secured SJSU’s first singles victory of the fall, defeating Arizona’s Chulak in two straight sets, 6–4, 6–4, with steady baseline play and clutch serving.
Fayos Capilla produced the second day’s drama, surviving a three-set battle against Mustangs Buntrock. After splitting the first two sets, she held her nerve in a tense tiebreaker to close out a 6–3, 2–6, 7–6 (11–9) win.
Though doubles remained a challenge, Durgun and Mihaljevic fell 6–0. Fayos Capilla and Fantousis prepared for consolation play on Saturday, keeping hopes alive for a late push.
Saturday proved to be the Spartans most successful day.
Fantousis led the way, securing wins in both singles and doubles. She teamed with Fayos Capilla for a commanding 6–2 victory over UCSB’s Tutoveanu and sophomore Raphaelle Leroux to reach the C-draw doubles final.
Later, Fantousis edged Arizona’s Conway in a three-set battle, 6–4, 0–6, 7–6 (10–7).
Durgun battled through a tense singles C-quarterfinal, rallying for a 6–1, 3–6, 7–6 (10–7) win against Colorado’s sophomore Ema Bubalo before falling to San Jose native and Arizona State’s senior Vivian Ovrootsky, a top-five seed, 6–2, 6–0.
Fayos Capilla and Mihaljevic both dropped close matches but showcased fights in extended rallies.
The Spartans wrapped up play on Sunday with Fayos Capilla and Fantousis competing in the C-draw doubles final.
The duo fell 6–0 to TCU’s seniors Yu-Chin Tsai and Letizia Corsini, finishing as runners-up after their strong Saturday performance. In singles, Mihaljevic put up a steady fight before dropping a 6–4, 6–3 contest to Colorado’s sophomore Lera Alexin.
However, the Spartans did not leave San Francisco with a title; their weekend featured a handful of standout moments: Durgun’s straight-set win, Fayos Capilla’s dramatic tie-break comeback, and Fantousis’ double-win day that carried her into a finals appearance.
The Battle in the Bay Classic presented a challenging test against Pac-12, Big West and Mountain West opponents, marking a promising start to the fall campaign.
The Spartans now turn their attention to the USD USTA Invite in San Diego and the Cal Fall Invite in Berkeley, scheduled for Sept. 25–28.
