The UCLA women’s tennis team thumped Baylor on Saturday afternoon, as the Bruins (7-3) scored a dominating 4-1 victory over the Bears (4-7) with the help of several underclassmen performances.
Coach Stella Sampras Webster has come to rely on younger players to step up since injuries and inexperience continue to affect the roster. Freshman Alaina Miller and sophomores Terri Fleming and Kristin Wiley answered that call Saturday.
Fleming and her doubles partner, junior Kelly Shaffer, set the tone early with a 6-3 victory over Rhiann Newborn and Gabriela Ferreira.
“We’ve been struggling in doubles. It was good to get a win,” Fleming said. “We’ve been working on getting more volleys in and setting (each other up) at the net.”
Fleming, battling a knee injury, won singles in straight sets over Baylor’s Theresa Van Zyl.
Wiley led Karina Traxler 6-2, 4-6, 4-1 when the match ended. She attributed the recent uptick in her play to increased consistency in her serve and aggressive net play that allow her to finish off points instead of letting rallies drag on.
“I’ve had really competitive matches and it’s been a lot of good tennis,” Wiley said.
Miller continued her impressive run in her first year of college tennis, as she coasted in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 over Kiah Generette. The freshman’s quick first serve and aggressive net play was key to her game.
“(Her) confidence has been building after each and every match,” Sampras Webster said. “(She’s) not as hesitant and is more sure in (her) shots.”
Sampras Webster said she was hesitant to lock in this lineup for the foreseeable future. However, with sophomore Maia Magill continuing to be sidelined by injury, her lineup choices are limited. She indicated that her lineup choices for three through six singles could be shuffled.
The Bruins will travel to Berkeley to begin conference play against Cal on Friday, seeking to avenge a loss to the Golden Bears earlier in the season.
Email Ayyalasomayajula at iayyalasomayajula@media.ucla.edu.