The stakes are high whenever the Bruins and Women of Troy square off.
When the rivals face each other at Marks Tennis Stadium on Thursday afternoon, they’ll play for a lot more than bragging rights.
In the last regular season match between conference powerhouses, No. 5 UCLA (18-3, 8-1 Pac-12) and No. 2 USC (20-2, 9-0) will battle for control of the Pac-12, with the winner most likely securing an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.
With the Bruins healthy and in peak condition, they said they are ready to upset their crosstown rivals for the second time this season.
“We’re feeling confident going against USC,” said coach Stella Sampras Webster. “We’ve trained hard, and with players healthy we can definitely bring the heat.”
Although UCLA faces a former No. 1 team loaded with six ranked singles players, the Bruins know they can counter with their own formidable and dangerous team.
“One through eight, we’re special,” said senior Kaitlin Ray. “We’re talented, and this is the time of year we work for.”
Riding a seven-match win streak, including three straight 7-0 shutouts, the Bruins said their confidence is soaring.
However, the team said that focusing from start to finish will be crucial against the Women of Troy, whose last loss came when they dropped a 4-3 decision at the Los Angeles Tennis Center over a month ago.
Although it came out victorious, UCLA said it’s excited to return a key starter in sophomore Jennifer Brady, who did not feature in the Bruins’ win in March. Brady is a player who has yet to drop a match to USC and who adds intensity to the Bruin lineup at the No. 1 doubles and No. 2 singles spot.
“This injury made me more motivated for this,” Brady said. “The key is to be engaged throughout the match and to stay on top of ourselves and our opponents.”
UCLA will start postseason play next week at the Pac-12 Championships in Ojai. Against some of the top teams in the nation, the Bruins will have one last week to test themselves and prepare for their title defense.