TULSA, Okla. ““ Just when it looked like UCLA would finish
up a quick day of work and make for the team hotel, someone refused
to cooperate. But surprisingly, that someone was not Clemson, the
Bruins’ opponent. With fourth-seeded UCLA cruising in its
quarterfinal NCAA Tournament match against the Tigers, Mother
Nature decided to intervene. Rain began to fall, thunder began to
roar, and players and fans packed up and moved indoors. The change
of scenery did not affect the Bruins, however, as they rolled to a
4-0 win and booked a spot in today’s NCAA semifinals, where
they will meet No. 1 and undefeated Illinois. “We just
decided as a team that we weren’t going to be denied,”
coach Billy Martin said. “We were going to do whatever it was
going to take.” “Obviously, everybody in the country
respects us because we’re a good team,” said Kris
Kwinta, who clinched the match for the Bruins with a 7-6(4), 6-3
win over Damiisa Robinson at No. 5 singles. “But I think from
now on everybody not only has to respect us, but fear us.”
The way UCLA (22-5) has been playing lately, one would be
hard-pressed to argue. With Sunday’s dominating win, the
Bruins have won 13 consecutive matches, and not surprisingly, they
have won the doubles point in 12 of those wins. Sunday was no
different, as Tobias Clemens and Chris Surapol teamed for an 8-5
win at No. 3 doubles, while Kwinta and Alberto Francis also won 8-5
at No. 1 to clinch the doubles point. “For our team to get up
1-0, it really gets us going,” Francis said. “It gives
us a lot of energy.” UCLA continued to roll from there, as
every Bruin posted a first-set victory over his opponent. No. 33
Clemson (25-12) never seemed to stand much of a chance against a
UCLA squad that had already defeated them once this season, 7-0,
back in Westwood in January. But instead of simply disposing of the
Tigers, everyone had to deal with that pesky little rain delay.
Play was suspended at 7:25 p.m. (CT) and didn’t resume
indoors until an hour later. But it didn’t take long for
Francis, Luben Pampoulov and Kwinta to finish their singles matches
to send UCLA to its third consecutive semifinal appearance.
“We’re one match away from playing for the national
championship, which is our goal,” Martin said. Being inside
was certainly different from the Bruins’ Sweet 16 win
Saturday over Texas A&M, which included wind gusts up to 25
miles per hour. “I feel very comfortable indoors,”
Kwinta said. “It’s nice without the wind.” Kwinta
looked a lot better Sunday than he did on Saturday, as did many of
his teammates. He and Francis snapped a losing streak in doubles,
and the pair stayed strong throughout singles play. But if
there’s one person the Bruins may worry a little bit about,
it is Clemens, the team’s only senior. He appeared to be in
control of his match against Nathan Thompson at No. 1 singles,
leading 3-0 in the second set after cruising to victory in the
first, but he faltered mentally and dropped the second set. Clemens
appeared to get it back in the third as he jumped out to a 4-0
lead, but he never had time to finish before his match was
suspended. “He might be struggling a little bit with
confidence, but I would still like to have him there when it really
counts for us,” Martin said. Well, today’s the day when
it will really count, as Clemens will battle Brian Wilson, the
nation’s top-ranked player, in singles. It won’t be
easier at the other positions, either. The No. 1 Illini, who beat
Vanderbilt 4-0 in the quarterfinals, haven’t lost in 64
matches. “The preparation has already been made, days, weeks,
months in advance,” Martin said. “Now we’ve just
got to go out there and let the chips fall where they
may.”
OTHER MATCHES: Second-seeded USC will meet
third-seeded Baylor in the other semifinal. Both advanced with 4-0
wins Sunday.