For the remainder of the season, the UCLA women’s tennis team will not play in the comfort of its own courts.
The No. 6 Bruins will head to Pullman, Wash., today to face the Washington State Cougars for the first of six consecutive away matches to close out the regular season.
The Bruins (12-5, 2-1 Pac-10) will make the lengthy trip to their Pac-10 rival in their first away conference match of the season. The Cougars (10-8, 0-5) have found success at their own venue, Hollingbery Fieldhouse, so far this season, winning nine of 11 home matches with both losses at a score of 4-3.
The Cougars are in the midst of a six-match home stand and are coming off of a close loss to in-state rival Washington, a team the Bruins defeated for their first conference victory this season.
UCLA is coming off of one of its largest victories of the season, a narrow victory over then-No. 10 California that avenged an early-season loss to the Golden Bears in Berkeley. The Bruins will want to continue to be successful against Pac-10 teams, because the next four matches will be against conference rivals.
Following the Washington State match, the Bruins will hit the road again and head south of Washington to face the Oregon Ducks.
Even with their unimpressive record, the Ducks (7-9, 1-4) have not dropped a match at home, outscoring their opponents 29-6 in Eugene. But Oregon has not faced a ranked team at home other than Washington and has only scored two points total in its four other Pac-10 matches.
Despite having only won just one dual match on the road this season, the Bruins are currently enjoying a hot streak, having won five of their last six matches.
Compiled by Jason Wang, Bruin Sports contributor.