When the No. 12 UCLA women’s tennis team heads out to
Arizona to face the Wildcats today, it may be the Bruins’ No.
6 player who is best prepared for the match.
Tucson’s 2,600-foot altitude has created difficulties for
many opponents, but sophomore Laura Gordon, who grew up in Aspen,
Colo., is well-acclimated to the conditions.
“I’m used to playing up at 8,000 feet,” Gordon
said. “I’ll be able to adjust the easiest.”
The high altitude causes the ball to travel through the air
quicker, creating a faster pace that the Bruins are not accustomed
to on their home courts.
“It’s tough to play there,” coach Stella
Sampras Webster said. “We need to put extra spin on the ball
to keep it in the court.”
All the Bruins, except freshman Daniela Bercek, have played in
Tucson. Last year’s squad won its road match there 4-3.
The Arizona heat could be an additional test for the Bruins, but
they have benefited from high temperatures at home this past week.
Conditioning has been a concern for Sampras Webster, but with a
whole week in between matches, she feels the team has finally been
able to focus on physical training in practice.
“It’s been a good week to prepare for the
heat,” she said.
After playing the Wildcats, the Bruins may face even hotter
temperatures the next day in Tempe where they will take on Arizona
State. In their first meeting three weeks ago, the Bruins beat the
Sun Devils 5-1.
The team was scheduled to play Arizona the next day, but the
match was canceled due to rain.