UCLA Downs Georgia Tech, 4-2 to Open Indoor Play Second-seeded women's tennis team to face Northwestern on Saturday.
Pamela Montez

Pamela Montez

Feb. 10, 2012

Charlottesville, Va. - The second-seeded UCLA women's tennis team got off to a positive start at the 2012 ITA National Team Indoor Championships on Friday evening, downing No. 13 Georgia Tech, 4-2 at the Boars Head Sports Club in Charlottesville, Va. With the win, the Bruins earned a spot in Saturday's quarterfinals and will take on Northwestern at 12:30 p.m. (PST). The Wildcats upset seventh-seeded and host Virginia, 4-2 in the opening round.

UCLA actually trailed 0-2 in Friday's contest, as the Yellow Jackets won the doubles point and then got a quick singles victory when Elizabeth Kilborn upset 62nd-ranked McCall Jones, 6-4, 6-4 at court No. 2.

It was all UCLA from that point on, however, as the Bruins reeled off four consecutive singles wins to take the match. Straight-set victories by freshmen Robin Anderson and Chanelle Van Nguyen quickly tied things up at 2-2. Kaitlin Ray then gave the Bruins a 3-2 lead when she downed Lynn Blau, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 at court No. 5.

Junior Pamela Montez posted the match-clinching victory on Friday, as her 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 win over Christina Ngo at court No. 3 gave the Bruins a 4-2 lead. Skylar Morton and Georgia Tech's Jasmine Minor were tied at 5-5 in the third set at court No. 4 when play was suspended.

Three of UCLA's four points on the day were posted by players who were competing in their first-ever National Team Indoors.

"I think we underestimated Georgia Tech's doubles a little," UCLA head coach Stella Sampras Webster stated. "They came out with a lot of emotion. They made a lot of volleys and they played really aggressive, which caught us off guard a little. It is good to know we can lose the doubles point against a team of this quality and still win the match. The freshmen came out a little nervous in singles, but they eventually put it together. I think Georgia Tech got a little nervous at the end as well. This was a very good experience for the freshmen, especially with the match coming down to the very end. Each player did what they needed to do for us to win this match. I thought we were the more talented team, but Georgia Tech had more discipline tonight. That is something we need to work on, having more discipline in the way we play."

#4 UCLA 4, #13 Georgia Tech 2
Feb 10, 2012 at Charlottesville, VA (Boars Head Sports Club)

Doubles
1. Anghelescu/O'Neill (GT) def. #23 Courtney Dolehide/Montez (UCLA) 8-3
2. #12 Anderson/Morton (UCLA) vs. Blau/Kilborn (GT) 7-5, unfinished
3. Ngo/Muriel Wacker (GT) def. Jones/Carling Seguso (UCLA) 8-6
Georgia Tech Wins Doubles Point

Singles
1. #8 Robin Anderson (UCLA) def. #45 Jillian O'Neill (GT) 6-4, 6-4
2. Elizabeth Kilborn (GT) def. #62 McCall Jones (UCLA) 6-4, 6-4
3. #70 Pamela Montez (UCLA) def. #106 Christina Ngo (GT) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
4. Skylar Morton (UCLA) vs. Jasmine Minor (GT) 2-6, 6-2, 5-5, unfinished
5. Kaitlin Ray (UCLA) def. Lynn Blau (GT) 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
6. Chanelle Van Nguyen (UCLA) def. Alex Anghelescu (GT) 6-4, 6-4

Match Notes
Georgia Tech 4-2; National ranking #13
UCLA 6-0; National ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (2,1,6,5,3)

Bank of the West CLick for Bruin Video

UCLA Schedule