With a revamped doubles lineup, the beginning looked so
promising for the UCLA women’s tennis team in their Pac-10
opener Wednesday at USC.
Yet even though the No. 8 Bruins were able to capture the
doubles point for the first time against a top-10 opponent, they
were unable to avenge their 4-3 loss earlier this year, and fell
5-2 to the No. 2 Trojans.
“The idea of losing to ‘SC is always
discouraging,” head coach Stella Sampras Webster said.
The Bruins started strong by winning two of the three doubles
sets. Freshman Feriel Esseghir made her dual match debut, teaming
with fellow freshman Jackie Carleton to beat Anita Loyola and Luana
Magnani 8-5 at the No. 2 position.
Although Sarah Gregg and Susi Wild fell to Jewel Peterson and
Tiffany Brymer 8-6 at the No. 1 spot, Sara Walker and Laura Gordon
clinched the doubles point for the Bruins, beating Melissa Esmero
and Carine Vermeulen 9-7.
“Taking the doubles was definitely a positive,”
Sampras Webster said. “Having Feriel out there made us
stronger.”
Having never lost a match after winning the doubles point and
having split with the Trojans in singles in their previous meeting,
the Bruins had reason to be optimistic entering the singles
matches.
However, with the All-American Walker sitting out in singles
because of a hamstring injury, the Bruins were unable to fight off
the Trojans’ veteran lineup while playing up a position.
“Not having Sara made a big difference,” Sampras
Webster said. “It was not impossible to win, but it made it
tough.”
Although Walker missed the last two matches against Arizona and
Loyola Marymount, neither of those teams were ranked nearly as high
as the Trojans.
The Bruins’ only win came at the No. 3 spot when Maureen
Diaz was forced to retire against Gregg in the middle of the second
set.
The Bruins also defaulted a match when Wild hurt her back
trailing 6-2, 1-0.
However, she is expected to play against Oregon on Friday.
Carleton, playing at the top spot for the fourth time this
season, fell to No. 4 nationally ranked Peterson 7-6 (2), 6-3.
The Trojans dominated the Bruins’ bottom half of the
lineup, not giving up a single set.
At the No. 4 spot, Laura Gordon lost to Loyola 6-4, 6-1.
Brymer defeated Anya Loncaric 7-5, 6-2 at the No. 5 spot, and
Vermeulen knocked off Shilpa Joshi 6-2, 6-3.
In spite of the encouraging start, the Bruins (8-5) left with a
0-1 Pac-10 record, still eager for revenge.
“It’s unfortunate we had to play them so
early,” Sampras Webster said.
“In April, we’ll be stronger and better.”
The only possibility for the two teams to meet up again is at
the NCAA Championships.
“Sure, I’d love to have another opportunity to beat
them,” Sampras Webster said.