The UCLA women’s tennis team will get a break from dual
matches while still remaining in competition for the next four days
as it travels to Ojai to compete in the Pac-10 Championships.
Rather than compete as a unit, the team will be split into four
groups and will take on opponents accordingly, giving the entire
lineup a chance to compete as they did in the fall season.
“It’s a good chance to get a lot of matches and work on
individual needs,” said senior captain Laura Gordon.
“Ojai is good for us individually because it’s a chance
for us to get wins over people we normally wouldn’t
play,” sophomore Tracy Lin added. “And it’s
during a three-week period without any dual matches, so it keeps us
match tough.” The already small team will have players spread
about in singles, doubles, invitational singles and invitational
doubles ““ all of which will provide for tough draws. Gordon,
junior Alex McGoodwin, and sophomores Riza Zalameda and Tracy Lin
will represent the No. 18 Bruins in the main draw for singles, and
will all square off against faces that they are now quite familiar
with. Both Gordon and Lin are scheduled to face members of the No.
2 USC women’s team, one which the Bruins suffered two losses
to just last week in the first round of play. Lin takes on freshman
No. 9 Amanda Fink, who split matches with Zalameda in the dual
matches, and Gordon will take on No. 47 Luana Magnani, who split
with Lin during the week. “I just want to do well, but
I’m friends with her,” Gordon said of Magnani.
“If we’re not in a dual match, it’s probably not
going to be as intense.” In the same part of the bracket,
McGoodwin is pitted up against Alice Barnes of Stanford, who is not
only the tournament’s top seed, but also the fourth-ranked
player in the nation. “I’ve got absolutely nothing to
lose and everything to gain,” McGoodwin said. “I think
it’s a really great opportunity, and I’m excited to go
out there.” The Bruins will also be represented in the
invitational draws by sophomore Elizabeth Lumpkin and freshmen
Ashley Joelson and Anna-Viktoria Lind. Joelson will also team up
with Lin as the top doubles team in the invitational draw.
“It’s going to be really fun, especially since I think
I can do well and win a couple of matches and show what I can
do,” said Lind, who has not played in a dual match for the
Bruins since Feb. 9 against UC Irvine. And though the Bruins
aren’t quite playing as a team, the Pac-10 Championships will
help keep the team motivated for the upcoming NCAA Championships.
“It’s different because even though it’s set up
more like an individual tournament, it pumps us up for
nationals,” McGoodwin said.
FINAL RANKS: The Bruins finished the season
with an overall record of 13-6 and were 8-5 in conference play,
with two of those losses coming to No. 1 Stanford and No. 2 USC.
The fifth conference loss was recorded against the Bruins by No. 8
California. The only nonconference loss the Bruins suffered came
against the No. 12 Pepperdine Waves. Since the Bruins ended the
season ranked No. 18, they will most likely have to travel for the
NCAA Regional rather than host it at the Los Angeles Tennis Center
as it has done for the past few years. “We don’t know
if we’re hosting yet,” Gordon said. “I think
it’s kind of unfortunate that we’re No. 18, but
it’s a good chance for us to show that we’re better
than that.” No. 18 seed is the lowest that the Bruins have
had in four years, dating back to 2001.