UCLA
California
No. 9 Bruins Visit Berkeley to Battle Bears
February 22, 2017 | Women's Tennis
LOS ANGELES -- The No. 9 UCLA women's tennis team plays its third of four consecutive road matches Friday when it visits No. 18 California in a non-conference match at Hellman Tennis Complex. The match can be seen on Pac-12 Networks beginning at 1:30 p.m. (PT).
The Bruins were recently elevated from No. 20 to the No. 9 spot in the Oracle/ITA polls following a 4-3 road win over crosstown rival USC at Marks Stadium. The match was clinched at 4-1, as UCLA's Jada Hart rallied from a lost first set to secure a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory over Rianna Valdes on Court 4. Additionally, Hart and doubles partner Ena Shibahara were resoundingly victorious over fellow top-15 duo Zoë Katz and Madison Westby of USC on Court 1, 6-0. Gabby Andrews also continued her strong play of late with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over then-No. 82 Westby on Court 5. She has won three consecutive singles decisions and has yet to drop one on the doubles courts.
The team of Hart and Shibahara also saw its stock climb thanks to its convincing win at USC. Previously ranked No. 12, the 6-1 duo found itself at No. 4 when the rankings were announced Tuesday. In singles, Shibahara was also rewarded for her 6-1, 6-2 win over Katz on Court 1, as she rose to No. 2 in the polls. The freshman is 6-0 in the dual-match season.
In No. 18 Cal, the Bruins will encounter a team that holds a 4-2 record following a 1-2 trip to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships in New Haven, Conn. The Golden Bears captured a first-round win in the tournament's 7-10 matchup when it blanked Georgia Tech, 4-0. In its second-round showdown with North Carolina, Cal did not have enough to take down the second-seeded Tar Heels, as it fell by a 4-2 score. A day later, the Golden Bears dropped its consolation match to third-seeded Oklahoma State, 4-2.
Cal is represented by three players in the ITA/Oracle rankings, highlighted by No. 23 Karla Popovic. No. 47 Maegan Manasse and No. 90 Olivia Hauger round out the ranked Cal singles players. On the doubles courts, Manasse and Maya Jensen checked in at No. 25 Tuesday after an upset win over OSU's fifth-ranked duo at the ITA Indoors. Popovic and Hauger, meanwhile, sit at No. 50.
Last season, the Bruins hosted the No. 1 Golden Bears at Los Angeles Tennis Center on Feb. 20. Despite a clinched doubles point by No. 22 UCLA to start the day, Cal responded with wins on five of the six singles courts to secure a 5-2 overall victory. The Bruins lead the overall series with Cal, 40-34.
UCLA will conclude its road trip and non-conference schedule when it visits Baylor on Mar. 4. The Hurd Tennis Center will be the site of the match, to begin at 11:00 a.m. (PT).
