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Texas
UCLA Women's Tennis Upends No. 9 Texas, 5-4
March 04, 2000 | Women's Tennis
March 4, 2000
AUSTIN, TEXAS - The ninth-ranked University of Texas women's tennis team (7-1) dropped its first dual match of the year to No. 14 UCLA (7-2), 5-4, at the Penick-Allison Tennis Center on Saturday. UT played without regular No. 1 senior Michelle Faucher (Great Falls, Va.), who sat out due to a strained shoulder, and sophomore Joanne Masongsong (Miami, Fl.).
The Horns jumped out to a 4-2 lead after the singles competition before UCLA swept three doubles matches for the victory. Junior Janet Walker (Seffner, Fla.), who was thrust into the No. 1 singles spot with the absence of Faucher, downed UCLA's No. 1 Sara Walker (4-6, 6-1, 6-4), while sophomore Vladka Uhlirova (Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic) defeated Amanda Basica (7-5, 6-3) at the No. 2 spot to lead the Longhorns' singles charge. Sophomore Kaysie Smashey (El Paso, Texas) picked up a win over Elizabeth Schmidt (6-4, 6-2) at the No. 4 position, while freshman Pauline Trinchant (Chamborand, France) rounded out the Horns' singles victories by topping Catherine Hawley (6-4, 7-5) at the No. 6 spot.
In doubles, the Longhorns played two pairs that had not competed together all season. UT's Uhlirova and sophomore Rebekah Forney (New Braunfels, Texas), competing together for the first time this season, fell to UCLA's Schmidt and Abigail Spears (8-6) at the No. 2 spot. UT's freshman Ziva Grasic (Ljubljana, Slovenia) and Trinchant, also paired together for the first time, lost to Petya Marinova and Annica Cooper (8-5) at the No. 3 spot.
In the decisive doubles match, Texas' No. 1 team of Walker and Smashey lost 9-8 (7-4 in the tie break) to Walker and Basica, as the Bruins defeated UT for the first time since the 1991-92 season.
"With our injuries, to come out of the singles with a 4-2 advantage against a very talented UCLA team was miraculous ," said Texas head coach Jeff Moore "Going into the doubles matches I thought the No. 1 spot was a toss up, but it just didn't turn out our way. However, the effort we received today was unbelievable and reminiscent of the 1995 NCAA Championship team, so that really bodes well for the future."
The Horns will be back in action on Monday, March 6, against No. 3 Georgia at 5 p.m., at Penick-Allison Tennis Center.
Singles
1. Janet Walker (Texas) def. Sara Walker (UCLA) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4
2. Vladka Uhlirova (Texas) def. Amanda Basica (UCLA) 7-5, 6-3
3. Abigail Spears (UCLA) def. Rebekah Forney (Texas) 6-2, 1-6, 6-1
4. Kaysie Smashey (Texas) def. Elizabeth Schmidt (UCLA) 6-4, 6-2
5. Annica Cooper (UCLA) def. Ziva Grasic (Texas) 6-3, 6-2
6. Pauline Trinchant (Texas) def. Catherine Hawley (UCLA) 6-4, 7-5
Doubles
1. Basica/Walker (UCLA) def. Walker/Smashey (Texas) 9-8 (7-4 tie break)
2. Schmidt/Spears (UCLA) def. Uhlirova/Forney (Texas) 8-6
3. Petya Marinova/Cooper (UCLA) def. Grasic/Trinchant (Texas) 8-5
