|
Top-Seeded UCLA Downs Miami, 4-2 at Team Indoors
Feb. 9, 2013
Charlottesville, Va. - The top-seeded UCLA women's tennis team moved one step closer to defending its title at the USTA/ITA National Team Indoors on Saturday, notching a 4-2 victory over eighth-seeded Miami at the Boar's Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, Va. The Bruins (5-0) will meet the winner of fourth-seeded Georgia and fifth-seeded Cal in the semifinals on Sunday (Time TBA). UCLA lost the doubles point for the first time this season on Saturday, suffering losses at court Nos. 1 and 3. After the Hurricanes won 8-4 at the No. 3 spot, the point was clinched following a huge upset at court No. 1, where Miami's unranked Lina Lileikite and Stephanie Wagner downed 16th-ranked Robin Anderson and Skylar Morton, 8-6. Despite the setback in doubles, Anderson rebounded strong in singles play, as she was the first to finish her match after posting a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Monica Albuquerque at court No. 1. Anderson, who is ranked No. 6 nationally in singles, is now 18-0 on the season. Playing right next door to Anderson at court No. 2, freshman Kyle McPhillips would make it 2-1 UCLA when she beat Lileikite by an identical 6-0, 6-2 score. Sophomore Chanelle Van Nguyen then made it three-straight singles wins for the Bruins, downing Melissa Bolivar, 6-1, 6-2 to make it 3-1 UCLA. It was at that point, however, when things began to get interesting. Miami (6-1) cut the lead to 3-2 when Clementina Riobueno notched a 7-5, 6-4 win over Morton at court No. 6. That left only court Nos. 3 and 5 still competing, and both matches were extremely close. UCLA senior Pamela Montez was in a third set with Kelsey Laurente at court No. 3, and Bruin freshman Catherine Harrison was up a set and in a tight battle with Wagner at court No. 5. Fortunately for UCLA, Harrison pulled out the second set in a tiebreaker, beating Wagner, 7-6, 7-6 to give UCLA the 4-2 victory and put her team into the semifinals. When play was suspended, Montez and Laurente were tied 3-3 in the third set at the No. 3 spot.
USTA/ITA National Team Indoors
|
|