SURPRISE, Ariz. – MSU Denver dropped into the consolation bracket at the Pacific West Conference women's tennis tournament after a 4-1 defeat to national No. 6 and tournament top-seed Azusa Pacific (Calif.) on Thursday.
 
Azusa Pacific improved to 13-2 overall and 13-0 against Division II competition. The Cougars have won 49 of a possible 58 points in Division II duals – MSU Denver has three of those nine points, including a regular-season loss.

"The ladies fought hard, but I though Azusa was the better team," MSU Denver coach Josh Graetz said. "Credit to them."
 
Gala Castello was the Roadrunners' lone winner, posting a 6-2, 6-0 victory at No. 4 singles. Castello also won in the regular-season meeting with Azusa Pacific.

Castello has won seven straight decisions to improve to 13-6 for the season.

"Gala continues to play solid tennis," Graetz said.
 
MSU Denver can still finish as high as fifth in the rugged PacWest tournament.
 
The Roadrunners will now face Point Loma (Calif.) at 9 a.m. MST (10 a.m. Denver time) on Friday.
 
When the teams played in the regular season, MSU Denver lost 6-1 but played without No. 1 singles player Brooklyn Ross. The Roadrunners were still competitive for the doubles point, won at No. 1 singles with Helena Steenberg, lost a three-set singles match and lost another in a second-set tiebreak.