As the UCLA women’s tennis team stepped off the plane in Utah for the first of two road games over the weekend, it wasn’t just the beautiful scenery that took the Bruins’ breaths away – it was the altitude.
The courts at both Utah and Colorado are located thousands of feet higher than the team’s home stadium, but that didn’t stop UCLA from crushing both of its Pac-12 rivals.
After first defeating the Utah Utes (9-4) in a 5-0 shutout on Friday, the team traveled to Colorado to continue its winning streak, dominating the Buffs (7-8) on Sunday with another shutout, this time 4-0.
The last time UCLA played in such high altitudes was when it visited Utah and Colorado two seasons ago. Though the Bruins hosted both the Utes and Buffs last season and didn’t play in high altitudes, it seemed they had no problem readjusting to the conditions.
“My other teammates say that it makes a huge difference, because the ball flies more, but for me, I actually played better,” said junior Chanelle Van Nguyen. “I liked the high altitudes.”
When playing in higher altitudes, there is a tendency to become winded more quickly than at lower altitudes. UCLA found it difficult to prepare for such conditions at home and hit the road early to allow extra time for practicing in the new conditions.
“The altitude messed our rhythms up a little bit, but after a few games we adjusted,” said sophomore Kyle McPhillips. “We all are the type of players that have seen different conditions, so we’re used to adjusting, and it wasn’t too much of a big deal.”
Two matches and two different states in one weekend can be exhausting, but UCLA handled the trip with ease.
“We’re leaving with two wins, and keeping everyone healthy is a big part of our team,” said coach Stella Sampras Webster. “No one got hurt. Everyone is doing really well, and that’s what’s important to our team.”
The Bruins won’t be home for long, however. The team leaves again Thursday, this time to defend its No. 1 ranking against the Washington Huskies in Seattle.