Saturday was a new challenge for much of the UCLA women’s tennis team.
“It’s been a while since I’ve played four matches in day, but I liked it,” said freshman Alaina Miller.
The physical and mental toll of back-to-back dual matches did little to slow No. 21 UCLA (5-1) down, as the team thoroughly dominated UC Davis (3-3) and Cal State Northridge (2-4) 4-0 and 4-1, respectively.
The Bruins took full advantage of a rare doubleheader to improve their strength of schedule after a disappointing late January loss to Fresno State. The matches also served to help the team’s physical and mental fitness before a slew of formidable opponents in the upcoming weeks.
The schedule features dual matches against No. 1 Cal, No. 11 USC, No. 17 Pepperdine and No. 29 Baylor.
“We’re making up for not playing a whole lot in the fall,” said coach Stella Sampras Webster. “We need these matches to get better, get more experience, and to have to deal with some adversity.”
UCLA set the tone early in the 4-0 victory against the Aggies, as Miller and sophomore Kristin Wiley clinched the doubles point after blanking Frederique Sleiffer and Kamila Kecki in a dominant final doubles match.
Seniors Catherine Harrison and Kyle McPhillips opened the day with a 6-3 takedown of Lani-Rae Green and Kristy Jorgensen in the first doubles match.
“We worked on poaching and being aggressive at the net (in practice),” McPhillips said. “And we applied that in our match this week.”
The pair’s aggression worked in its favor as the seniors scored easy points by putting away weak returns off the serve.
Sampras Webster noted that injuries have led to her to rotate her second and third doubles teams and that health will continue to dictate who follow Harrison and McPhillips.
The Bruins cruised in singles as Harrison, the No. 18 singles player in the nation, beat Green 6-2, 6-2. McPhillips beat Jorgensen 6-1, 6-4, and Wiley downed Kecki 6-1, 6-2.
Players were aggressive from the first serve, dictating the play and coming to the net often – areas of the game Sampras Webster thinks will be crucial against tougher competition.
The second match featured more dominant play as UCLA handled Northridge in similar fashion as they did UC Davis.
Miller and Wiley again took the doubles point after McPhillips and Harrison won their respective doubles bout.
Miller continued her string of excellent play following a tough loss to Fresno State a few weeks back with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over the Matadors’ Kiryang Kim.
“She’s been a breath of fresh air,” Sampras Webster said. “(She’s been) a great teammate and is coachable.”
The Matadors’ sole point came after sophomore Terri Fleming retired from her match after re-aggravating an injury. Sampras Webster said she would be day-to-day, but expected her to be on the court again this upcoming weekend.
The pair of victories cap off a string off impressive performances, as the team has notched four wins in a row ahead of their upcoming ranked opponents.