Rarely are they viewed as a contingent, spread across the courts
of the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
Two of them play under the lights of the stadium courts, while
the other is relegated to performing well on the outskirts of the
tennis complex.
When the three Bruins are viewed not as individuals but as a
distinctive core, the image of the future of the women’s
tennis program becomes sharper.
Riza Zalameda, Tracy Lin and Elizabeth Lumpkin, the trio of
sophomores on the 7-2 UCLA women’s tennis team, have filled
the void created by the departures of Sarah Gregg (who graduated)
and Daniela Bercek (who transferred to Duke).
After making a bold statement last year as a much-heralded
incoming freshman class, the group has elevated its expectations
and has been greeted with success thus far this season.
“Overall, being on a young team, they’ve really
matured and gotten wins in the lineup,” said senior and team
captain Laura Gordon. “Sometimes it’s tough to have the
maturity out there, but they’ve really stepped up.”
But the three didn’t have to worry about becoming familiar
with one another last year. They had already established a great
dynamic among themselves, and the effects of their relationships
both on and off the court will reflect on the program for the
duration of their Bruin careers.
Cruising the rough road
As though playing No. 2 for UCLA as a freshman wasn’t
challenging enough, Zalameda has been forced to step up yet again
this season after Bercek’s departure.
The sophomore welcomed the task of being the Bruins’ No. 1
player at the onset of the season and continues to battle on the
top court for the Bruins, compiling a 5-3 record so far in dual
matches this season.
However, the journey hasn’t been as smooth as coach Stella
Sampras Webster would have liked.
“Playing No. 1 for UCLA is tough, and she’s
struggled a bit at that position,” Sampras Webster said.
Nonetheless, she is pleased with her top player’s
preparation during the offseason, as Zalameda was one of just six
players to compete on the USA Tennis Summer Collegiate Team, which
gave her the opportunity to fine-tune her doubles play.
Her investment has paid off; she has excelled at the top
position with Gordon, propelling the duo to No. 17 in the
nation.
“I think we all knew (Zalameda) was going to be a huge
part of our success,” Gordon said.
When she has struggled, she has been able to turn to her fellow
sophomores for support. These, ironically, are the same girls she
looks to for a spark in her competitive drive.
“I think every time someone is down, we pick each other
up,” Zalameda said. “Even though there might be
competition, we’re all there for each other.”
Finishing first
The competition Zalameda usually faces comes from her teammate
and long-time friend, Lin.
The two, along with Lumpkin, often find themselves glancing up
at the scoreboard in what becomes a race to see who can capture her
match first.
Lin has become accustomed to finishing fastest, letting up very
few games in each set and posting an 8-1 singles record in the
Bruins’ nine dual matches.
In the spare time after her matches, Lin is quick to get off the
court and support her teammates.
“She’s the first one out there to root her teammates
on,” Sampras Webster said.
And though the three find themselves spread across the courts of
the Los Angeles Tennis Center during singles play, they have
recently been able to compete on neighboring courts in doubles,
feeding off of one another in hopes of attaining the first point of
the team’s dual matches.
“It’s nice to cheer each other on because
we’re all in the same vicinity,” Lin said. “In
singles, we’re representing on each court.”
Going with the wind
After spending many of last year’s matches in the stands
cheering on her teammates, Lumpkin has already compiled a 6-1
singles record this season, including perhaps the biggest victory
of her UCLA career in a three-set win that clinched a 4-3 victory
over Cal.
Though she receives very little recognition for her role ““
and an even smaller crowd ““ Lumpkin understands that her
matches mean just as much as those of her teammates.
“Obviously on the top courts you’re going to have
more fans and have more focus on you, but it’s one point
whether it’s Court 1 or Court 6,” Lumpkin said.
“I know my job is to pull every single win I possibly
can.”
And those wins are no longer limited to singles; she has stepped
up to yet another challenge ““ playing at the No. 2 doubles
position.
But getting to that spot was no easy task for Lumpkin. She often
trains on her own, in addition to team practices.
“(Tracy and I) had practice one day and then we were
eating dinner and we finished at 7 p.m. on a Friday night and we
were like, “˜Do you want to go hit again?'”
Lumpkin said.
It is this type of devotion that has Sampras Webster excited and
anxious to watch the three continue to take the court and capture
wins for the Bruins.
“They’re very serious about their tennis and they
want our team to do well,” Sampras Webster said. “All
three of them have really stepped up.”