UCLA
Baylor
No. 12 Bruins Sweep Baylor, Move on to Round of 16
May 12, 2018 | Women's Tennis
LOS ANGELES โ The No. 12-seeded UCLA women's tennis team punched its ticket to Winston-Salem, N.C. and the NCAA Round of 16 on Saturday night after topping No. 25 Baylor 4-0 in the Regional Final at Los Angeles Tennis Center.
The victory sends the Bruins (22-5) to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2015. UCLA will next face No. 5 seed Ole Miss on Thursday, May 17 at 4:00 p.m. PT at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.
Originally scheduled for a 3:00 p.m. first serve, Saturday's tilt against the Bears (18-14) was pushed back to 5:30 p.m. due to rain delays earlier in the day at LATC. By virtue of the late start, UCLA was the 16th and final team to secure a spot in Winston-Salem.
"I'm just really happy that the girls get to experience a Sweet 16," said UCLA head coach Stella Sampras-Webster. "It's always our goal to be there. Last couple years, we made it close but didn't quite make it there, but I'm excited for them to have this opportunity."
UCLA had its work cut out in the doubles point, as the teams split the first two decisions, leaving the outcome in the hands of Gabby Andrews and Ayan Broomfield on court two.
Tied 4-4 with Baylor's pairing of Jessica Hinojosa and Theresa Van Zyl at the time that Baylor knotted the score with a victory on court one, Andrews and Broomfield rallied to win the next two games on their court to clinch the doubles point for the Bruins.
Broomfield's volley is too hot to handle and the Bruins take the doubles point with a 6-4 win on court two. Singles coming up next. #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/dYGj55TifY
โ UCLA Women's Tennis (@uclawtennis) May 13, 2018
On court three, Alaina Miller/Ena Shibahara won an early 6-3 decision to push their unbeaten streak to 17 straight matches.
UCLA came out hot in singles play, winning the first set on five of six courts.
That fact paid dividends as the Bruins were able to finish off the tidy 4-0 win despite being stretched to third sets on courts two and five.
Miller, playing on court six, was the first to finish off her opponent, taking a 6-3, 6-3 result over Angelina Shakraichuk. Miller has now lost just once in her last 17 singles matchups.
Alaina Miller is the first off the court in singles again, putting UCLA up 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-3 result on court six. pic.twitter.com/X1KIpjl97n
โ UCLA Women's Tennis (@uclawtennis) May 13, 2018
Shibahara followed on court one, finishing strong down the stretch to take a 6-3, 6-4 win. Shibahara, the No. 9-ranked singles player in the country, won a deuce point at 4-4 in the second setย to put herself in position for the win, then converted with her serve in the next game, clinching the decision with an impressive backhand volley over Van Zyl.
How about this shot from Ena Shibahara to seal the 6-3, 6-4 win on court one? ??????
โ UCLA Women's Tennis (@uclawtennis) May 13, 2018
Bruins lead 3-0 pic.twitter.com/oGlghqu53f
Freshman Abi Altick finished off the win for UCLA on court four, 6-3, 6-4.
Abi Altick clinches for UCLA with a 6-3, 6-4 win on court four!#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/ic7N3JgUCl
โ UCLA Women's Tennis (@uclawtennis) May 13, 2018
This is UCLA's 17th trip to the Round of 16 in 20 seasons under the current NCAA Tournament format (since 1999). The Bruins have two NCAA Titles (2008, 2014), both under Sampras Webster.
The Bruins and Rebels previously faced off on Feb. 10, 2018 at the ITA Indoor Championships. Ole Miss edged UCLA 4-3 in that showdown. The Bruins took the doubles point in that contest, while Hart and Altick won singles decisions.
How sweet it is! UCLA is Winston-Salem bound for the Sweet 16!#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/3vHNbfIDcU
โ UCLA Women's Tennis (@uclawtennis) May 13, 2018
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
6,1,4
Players Mentioned
