UCLA
Utah
No. 14 Bruins Notch Comeback Win at Utah
April 06, 2018 | Women's Tennis
SALT LAKE CITY – The No. 14 UCLA women's tennis received a scare from unranked Utah Friday, but saw a freshman play the role of hero in a 4-3 win at George S. Eccles Tennis Center.
The Utes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the conference match, but the Bruins powered back with wins on four of the remaining five courts to collect their fifth straight Pac-12 win. Abi Altick, who dropped a first-set tiebreaker on Court 4, responded with the next two sets to clinch the comeback win.
The tandem of Ena Shibahara and Alaina Miller won its ninth match in a row to give the Bruins an early edge in doubles play. The UCLA pair managed to hold off Brianna Chisholm-Victoria Robertson on Court 3, 6-4.
That would represent the lone Bruin victory in doubles action, however, as the homecourt advantage fueled the Utes to the match's opening point. Tenth-ranked Bruin duo Jada Hart-Terri Fleming fell victim to an upset on the top court, as Alexia Petrovic-Jena Chang evened the doubles score with a 6-4 win of their own. Ultimately, Taylor Calton-Whitney Turley of the Utes secured the point with a 6-3 victory over Ayan Broomfield and Abi Altick.
Utah inched closer to the upset when Robertson capped a straight-set win over Kristin Wiley on Court 6, 6-2, 6-1. The veteran leadership of Bruin senior and No. 113 Terri Fleming shined through on Court 3, however, as the Atlanta native got her team on the board with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Jena Chang. No. 33 Jada Hart needed a tiebreaker to take her first set from Chisholm on Court 2, but cruised through the second, 6-1, to pull the Bruins even.
Broomfield, who split the first two sets with Turley on Court 5, took charge in the third and captured a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 win to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead. The top-court match proved as advertised, going three sets. Utah's Petrovic claimed the upset victory over No. 11 Shibahara, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, putting the decision in the hands of the Court 4 foes.
Altick would start singles play losing the opening set on a tiebreaker. That would not faze the Bruin freshman, though, who bounced back to secure the remaining two sets and the win for UCLA. The 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 win improved Altick's record to 24-6 and 10-2 in dual-match play.
The Bruins will return to action Sunday at Colorado with another conference match. Start time from the South Campus Tennis Complex is dependent on weather.
Tennis Match Results
UCLA vs Utah
April 6, 2018 at Salt Lake City, UT
(George S. Eccles Tennis Center)
#14 UCLA 4, Utah 3
Singles competition
1. Alexia Petrovic (UTAH) def. #11 Ena Shibahara (UCLA), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. #33 Jada Hart (UCLA) def. Brianna Chisholm (UTAH), 7-6, 6-1
3. #113 Terri Fleming (UCLA) def. Jena Chang (UTAH), 6-1, 6-4
4. #50 Abi Altick (UCLA) def. Taylor Calton (UTAH), 6-7, 6-2, 6-2
5. Ayan Broomfield (UCLA) def. Whitney Turley (UTAH), 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
6. Victoria Robertson (UTAH) def. Kristin Wiley (UCLA), 6-2, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. Alexia Petrovic/Jena Chang (UTAH) def. #10 Jada Hart/Terri Fleming (UCLA), 6-4
2. Taylor Calton/Whitney Turley (UTAH) def. Ayan Broomfield/Abi Altick (UCLA), 6-3
3. Ena Shibahara/Alaina Miller (UCLA) def. Brianna Chisholm/Victoria Robertson (UTAH), 6-4
Match Notes:
Utah 10-10
UCLA 13-4; National ranking #14
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,3,2,5,1,4)
Players Mentioned
