UCLA
Texas (NCAA Sweet 16)
Ninth-Ranked UCLA Downs No. 7 Texas, 5-2
May 18, 2000 | Women's Tennis
May 18, 2000
Malibu, Calif - The ninth ranked UCLA women's tennis team won four of six singles matches, including the deciding match at No. 2 doubles, to secure a 5-2 upset over No. 7 Texas Thursday, in the round of 16 at the NCAA Women's Tennis Championships at Pepperdine University.
UCLA, now 17-8 on the season, moves on to face No. 1 Stanford, a 5-1 winner Thursday over Northwestern. That match will be at 2:00 p.m. at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center.
"This was a big win for us," said UCLA head coach Stella Sampras. "We've played them twice in the NCAA's the last couple of years and lost both times, so this time we really wanted it. We came out ready to play from the first point and I'm pleased with our effort."
The Bruins took an early 2-0 lead after victories at Nos. 4 and 6 singles by Abigail Spears and Catherine Hawley respectively. Bruin senior Elizabeth Schmidt put UCLA up 3-0 as, after losing the first set 6-3 to Kaysie Smashey, she battled back to win the final two sets 6-3, 6-0. Fellow senior Annica Cooper gave the Bruins a 4-0 lead when she downed Michelle Faucher 7-6, 7-5 at No. 2 singles.
Texas battled back to make it 4-1, when Vladka Uhlirova defeated Amanda Basica 6-2, 7-6 at No. 3 singles. The Longhorns were able to send the match into doubles when, in the final match of the afternoon, Janet Walker upset UCLA's No. 2-ranked Sara Walker 7-5, 2-6, 6-2.
The match was eventually decided at No. 2 doubles, where UCLA's Schmidt/Spears downed Texas' Masongsong/Smashey 8-5. The Bruins were leading 4-1 at No. 1 doubles and 7-3 at No. 3 doubles when play was suspended.
With the win, UCLA avenges two prior losses to Texas in the NCAA Championships. The Longhorns defeated UCLA 5-2 in the quarterfinals in 1997 and 5-0 in the round of 16 in 1998.
UCLA's quarterfinal showdown with Stanford tomorrow will mark the third time that the two teams have met this season. The Cardinal won both meetings 7-2.
"Tomorrow is going to be a tough match," says Sampras. "This team is playing its best tennis of the year right now. "We've played Stanford twice this year and we know what to expect. We have a lot of pride and a lot of heart and we feel we can beat them."
Singles
1. (13)Janet Walker (Texas) def. (2)Sara Walker (UCLA) 7-5, 2-6, 6-2
2. (47)Annica Cooper (UCLA) def. Michelle Faucher (Texas) 7-6, 7-5
3. (50)Vladka Uhlirova (Texas) def. (79)Amanda Basica (UCLA) 6-2, 7-6
4. (77)Abigail Spears (UCLA) def. Joanne Masongsong (Texas) 6-3, 6-2
5. Elizabeth Schmidt (UCLA) def. Kaysie Smashey (Texas) 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
6. Catherine Hawley (UCLA) def. Pauline Trinchant (Texas) 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
1. (9)Basica/Walker (UCLA) vs. (30)Uhlirova/Walker (Texas) Susp.
2. (39)Schmidt/Spears (UCLA) def. Masongsong/Smashey (Texas) 8-5*
3. (42)Cooper/Petya Marinova (UCLA) vs. Faucher/Ziva Grasic (Texas) Susp.
* Clinching Match
Final Score: UCLA 5, Texas 2
