When fans begin to trickle into the seats at the Los Angeles Tennis Center for a UCLA women’s tennis match rather than lurk at the Bruin Walk entrance to the courts, the Bruins know that the match is a big one.
So this afternoon when No. 19 UCLA (8-4, 2-0 Pac-10) takes on the No. 11 USC Women of Troy (8-2, 2-0 Pac-10), the Bruin squad will be reminded by the large crowd that the match is one of great importance.
“We usually don’t get many fans, but when it’s USC, there are a lot and it just brings a lot of energy to the courts,” sophomore Ashley Joelson said. “It makes it more fun because we’re performing in the spotlight.”
But not all of the Bruins have had a chance in their tenures at UCLA to take the court under the spotlight while taking on their crosstown rival.
Freshman Yasmin Schnack will be competing against the Women of Troy for the first time, but has been told by her older, more experienced teammates what to expect and how to approach the match.
“They told me that there would be a lot of people out here supporting us and to love it and just have fun,” Schnack said. “I’m just excited and pumped and can’t wait to come out here and try to get the win.”
Getting a win is something the Bruins have been unable to do in their last three meetings with the Women of Troy. Coach Stella Sampras Webster feels the key to winning is capturing the first point of the match in doubles.
Even the doubles point won’t be enough to ensure a victory for the Bruins. Sampras Webster and her team are well aware of that: They anticipate battles on all six singles courts.
“Every match is going to be tough, and we know this team and they know us,” Sampras Webster said. “This is what college tennis is all about: this type of rivalry.”
A lot is on the line for the women’s tennis team in this match. The Bruins look to build their confidence after four losses in a span of just more than two weeks to some of the nation’s premier teams.
But for this match, a win would be more than just a win. It would give the Bruins pride and bragging rights to carry on their trip to USC for the second and perhaps final meeting of the two teams this season.
“It’s just about pride,” Sampras Webster said. “We have a lot of pride, and we want to continue to keep UCLA on top and strong. There is some extra incentive to beat USC.”
FIRST RANKINGS OF SEASON RELEASED: UCLA dropped to No. 19 nationally in the first computer rankings of the season, which were released on Tuesday. Prior to the release of the updated rankings, the order of teams had been determined by a poll of voters.
New rankings will be released again next Tuesday, the day the Bruins take on Baylor. The USC game will already have taken place.
“We just want to win every match we play because right now we’re No. 19 and we know we can do better than that,” junior Tracy Lin said.