DENVER, Colo. – For the first time in program history, the No. 15 Cameron women's tennis team will advance to the Elite Eight after defeating No. 26 California University (Pa.) 5-2 on Wednesday evening.
 
In their sixth overall national tournament appearance, the Aggies (21-3) took down Cal U (18-4), the school that eliminated Cameron in their last appearance in 2012. Despite falling 2-1 in doubles to the Vulcans, Cameron turned around to sweep the singles 4-0 in the tournament rematch.
 
Additionally, the win over Cal U brings head coach James Helvey his 800th career victory.
 
"It feels simply awesome," Helvey said. "I give all the credit to my team who carried me here, and I couldn't have done it without them. I am very proud of these girls."
 
Cameron fell 2-1 in the doubles portion with Paula Gutierrez and Angie Torres taking the lone win by dominating their opponents in an 8-3 victory in the second pairing.
 
In the first slot, No. 15 Alina Gorina and Zhenia Shviadok took their first two games against California's (Pa.) No. 16 pairing Kiefer Shaw and Lena Dimmer but fell behind 5-3 before taking the next three games for the 6-5 edge.
 
They would tie twice and for a final time at seven as the Vulcans took the next two for the 9-7 win, which snapped a 13 game winning streak for Gorina and Shviadok.
 
Cameron's third doubles pairing of Samantha Wood and Mathilde Thibaudat rallied back from two games down early to take their match into a tiebreaker. The Aggies opened with a 5-1 lead but the Vulcans battled back to tie at 6-6. The tightly contested match tied three more times before Cameron fell in the final two points for the 9-8 (11-9) loss.
 
Entering into singles play, Cameron was down 2-1, but the Aggies powered back to take four spots for the overall victory.
 
"It's been the theme all year where we have been down 2-1 playing against some tough teams," Helvey continued. "Everyone knew what was on the line, and we had confidence in our singles."
 
Shviadok awarded CU its first single victory in a 6-4, 6-2 win to tie the overall match 2-2. Top singles player No. 18 Gutierrez put Cameron ahead 3-2 overall with a follow up victory as she battled back from a 6-0 first set loss to take the next 6-2 and concluded with a 6-0 sweep.
 
On court five, Wood was the third finisher, winning her first set with a close 7-6 margin and took the second 6-3 to pull Cameron ahead 4-2 over the Vulcans.
 
The remaining three singles matches went to three sets with Cameron's second-slot player Gorina delivering the Aggies' match winning point over No. 30 Lena Dimmer 7-6, 4-6, 6-1.
 
The Aggies will advance to the Elite Eight to face Hawaii Pacific at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
 
Singles competition
1. #18 Paula Gutierrez (CUW) def. Kiefer Shaw (CAL) 0-6, 6-2, 6-0
2. Alina Gorina (CUW) def. #30 Lena Dimmer (CAL) 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-1
3. Zhenia Shviadok (CUW) def. Jasi Witherspoon (CAL) 6-4, 6-2
4. Angie Torres (CUW) vs. Veronika Mikulis (CAL) 3-6, 6-2, 4-5, unfinished
5. Samantha Wood (CUW) def. Holly Bennett (CAL) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
6. Mathilde Thibaudat (CUW) vs. Alyssa Savill (CAL) 6-3, 5-7, 4-5, unfinished
 
Doubles competition
1. #16 Kiefer Shaw/Lena Dimmer (CAL) def. #15 Alina Gorina/Zhenia Shviadok (CUW) 9-7
2. Paula Gutierrez/Angie Torres (CUW) def. Holly Bennett/Jasi Witherspoon (CAL) 8-3
3. Veronika Mikulis/Alyssa Savill (CAL) def. Samantha Wood/Mathilde Thibaudat (CUW) 9-8 (11-9)