The UCLA women’s tennis team finished the season third in
the Pac-10 but will be the least represented team at the Conference
Championships this weekend at Ojai. More than anything, it reflects
where the Bruins’ priorities are. “We don’t want
to do anything that hurts our chances in the NCAAs,” coach
Stella Sampras Webster said. Rather than risking further fatigue or
injuries to already-tired bodies two weeks before the NCAA
regionals, the Bruins are resting three of their top four starters
in this 32-player draw that has no bearing on team rankings.
Freshman Daniela Bercek, who recently moved to the top of the
lineup, and sophomore Laura Gordon, who played most of the season
at No. 6, will be the only players representing the Bruins in the
Pac-10 singles tournament division. “It’s especially an
opportunity for Laura, who doesn’t get to play a lot of the
top players,” Sampras Webster said. Yet neither Gordon nor
Bercek will have a chance to face the league’s best.
Stanford’s Amber Liu, the defending NCAA singles champion,
opted to sit out this weekend. Like some of the Bruins’ top
players, Liu will instead rest and prepare for next month’s
NCAA Championships. USC’s No. 13 Luana Magnani will also miss
this tournament. “April’s a real tough month for the
players,” said Sampras Webster, explaining why many of the
top players forgo the Pac-10 Championships. Still, with the Pac-10
being the nation’s strongest conference, this weekend will
not be short on firepower. Six of the top 25 women in the nation
are entered, including Cal’s No. 3 Raquel Kops-Jones. The
Bears senior would probably like nothing more than a chance to
avenge two upset losses she suffered to Bercek earlier this season.
But the two will not meet unless they make it to the final round.
Stanford’s No. 12 Alice Barnes and Oregon’s No. 10
Daria Panova are two giant obstacles in Bercek’s way before a
potential rematch. Gordon’s road is no easier, as she faces
the Trojans’ Bernadette Bayani in the first round. Bayani
demolished Gordon 6-1, 6-1 in the January dual match between the
two teams. In the doubles draw, the Bruins’ top team, junior
Lauren Fisher and Bercek, will look to snap their two-match losing
streak before the NCAA tournament kicks off. However, with a first
round match against Stanford’s Barnes and Erin Burdette, just
reaching the second round will be a major accomplishment. Sophomore
Jackie Carleton and Gordon, who have not played together this
season, will have a far easier first round, facing Washington
State’s Lorena Arias and Chris Martinez.
RANKINGS DROP: Despite coming off one of their
most resilient victories of the year, a 4-3 win over Cal on
Saturday, and a good showing against top-ranked Stanford, the
Bruins dropped from No. 6 to No. 8 in the rankings. They are one of
four Pac-10 teams ranked in the top 10. Individually, Bercek jumped
from No. 52 to No. 30 following her win over Kops-Jones. Carleton
remained at No. 16. The top 64 players qualify for the NCAA singles
tournament at the end of the season. Those who reach the round of
16 or who are ranked in the top 20 at the end of the season are
awarded All-American status.