Like a runner exerting one last burst of energy before the
finish line, the UCLA women’s team took its game to the next
level in its last match for over two weeks.
In their final non-conference match, the Bruins (10-5, 1-1
Pac-10) handled 17th-ranked Texas 6-1.
“We knew this was the last match of the quarter, so we
wanted to come out strong,” head coach Stella Sampras Webster
said.
The Bruins immediately responded by dominating the Longhorns in
doubles, giving up a total of just five games. Bruins Sara Walker
and Laura Gordon cruised past Kelly Baritot and Macey Breece 8-1 at
No. 3, Susi Wild and Sarah Gregg trounced Texas’ Lindsey Blau
and Michelle Krinke 8-1 at No. 2, and Bruins Jackie Carleton and
Feriel Esseghir dismissed 17th-ranked Kendra Strohm and Ziva Grasic
8-3 at the top spot.
“They have loads of freshmen so we didn’t know much
about them,” Gregg said. “Winning the doubles so
convincingly made it easier once we started the singles.”
“Our doubles are getting better,” Gordon added.
“It gets us into a better mood when we get on the court for
singles.”
Taking confidence from their doubles pairs, the Bruins jumped on
top of the Longhorns early on in singles. Gordon quickly disposed
of Grasic 6-3, 6-1 at No. 4, and Wild finished her match shortly
after, knocking off Krinke 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2.
“I’ve been struggling and really wanted to play
well,” Gordon said. “It’s good to get a
convincing win before the break.”
Although Bruin Anya Loncaric suffered a 6-2, 6-3 loss to Baritot
at the No. 5 spot, Carleton and Shilpa Joshi soon erased
Texas’ hopes for a comeback.
Playing at the top spot, Carleton jumped out to a quick lead and
defeated Strohm 6-2, 6-3. Joshi fell behind 5-1 to Breece in the
first set, but battled back to take the first set 7-6 (4), and held
on to win the second set 6-4.
“I came out not really knowing how she was going to
play,” Joshi said. “At first I was too aggressive; I
had to wait for my shot.”
In recent matches, both Joshi and Loncaric have faced
disadvantages from the start by not playing in the doubles sets
while their opponents do.
“I play much better after having played doubles,”
Joshi said. “It gets rid of the nerves and warms you
up.”
With the match already clinched, Gregg administered the
finishing touches by beating Blau 7-6 (4), 4-0, ret.
“I felt I was the better player, but wasn’t playing
like it,” Gregg said of the first set. “But I won the
tiebreaker like I wanted to play the second set.”
The Bruins hope their season will mimic Gregg’s match:
coming out on top in the first half, then dominating in the
second.
“We’ve had our bumps, but we’re at a better
spot than a couple months ago,” Sampras Webster said.
“Everyone is coming together as a team.”
The Bruins will take two and a half weeks off before resuming
conference play against Arizona March 28.