Cinderella was not with the UCLA women’s tennis team this
weekend.
The Bruins’ season ended Friday in Gainesville, Florida,
with a 4-0 loss to Duke (30-2) in the NCAA quarterfinals.
The No. 11 Bruins (16-11) were looking like an underdog favorite
after a 4-3 upset of No. 6 Washington, but they were unable to
handle the third-seeded Blue Devils.
Duke got off to a fast start in doubles play, winning at the No.
1 and No. 3 positions to secure the point. The pair of Sara Walker
and Laura Gordon were leading 6-5 for UCLA on court 2, but the
losses on courts 1 and 3 rendered the match inconsequential.
UCLA has struggled in doubles play all year, while the Blue
Devils have excelled, winning the point in 29 of their 32 matches
this season.
Things didn’t get any better for the Bruins in singles
play. Gordon was quickly defeated by Katie Blaszik 6-1, 6-3, and
that was followed by a 6-4, 6-1 win by Katie Granson over Anya
Loncaric that put Duke within a point of victory.
The Bruins were unable to rally like they did against
Washington, as Julie Deroo knocked off Feriel Esseghir 6-4, 6-2 to
close the door on UCLA’s season. When play was suspended,
Duke was in control on courts 1 and 2, but on court 3 Susi Wild of
UCLA was winning 6-4, 6-3 over Saras Arasu.
The Blue Devils fell 4-1 to eventual champion Florida, which
nipped defending champion Stanford 4-3 in the championship match
Sunday.
For Walker, Jackie Carleton and Wild, the season isn’t
over just yet.
All three of them will participate in the NCAA individual
championships which get underway today at 10:30 EST in
Gainesville.
Walker, the No. 12 player in the nation, is the best chance for
Bruin representation in the late rounds of the tournament. She
opens play against No. 46 Courtney Bergman of Harvard.
No. 20 Carleton will meet No. 54 Daria Panova of Oregon, and No.
50 Wild will match up against No. 19 Amanda Johnson of Duke, who
was leading Carleton 6-4, 5-2 when play was suspended in
Friday’s dual match.