Tuesday, November 19
Waco, Texas
All Day
UCLA
vs
NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships
Kate Fakih (left0 and Olivia Center (Photo: Neela Piper)
NCAA Debut Ends in Runner-Up Finish for Center, Fakih
November 24, 2024 | Women's Tennis
WACO, Texas -- Freshmen Olivia Center and Katie Fakih of the UCLA women's tennis team concluded their time Sunday at the NCAA Championships as doubles runners-up to Virginia's Elaine Chervinsky and Melodie Collard.
The final-round showdown to a third-set super tiebreaker. The third-ranked combination of Chervinsky and Collard prevailed by a 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(5) score. Seeded No. 5-8 in the tournament, Center and Fakih earned All-America honors by reaching the quarterfinals. The Bruins' run included wins against No. 5 Alina Mukhortova and Maria Sholokhova in the round of 16 and No. 18 DJ Bennett and Ava Hrastar of Virginia in the semifinals.
Center and Fakih jumped out to 5-1 advantage and broke the serve of Chervinsky and Collard four games later to secure an opening-set victories. In the second, the Cavaliers earned one break for 3-2 and another to send the match to a third.
Each of the super tiebreaker's first four points went the way of Chervinsky and Collard. Center and Fakih cut their deficit to 3-5 and 4-6 before the Cavaliers closed strong.
The tandem of Center and Fakih finished the fall with a 12-3 record. Eight of the pair's wins came against nationally-ranked foes.
The final-round showdown to a third-set super tiebreaker. The third-ranked combination of Chervinsky and Collard prevailed by a 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(5) score. Seeded No. 5-8 in the tournament, Center and Fakih earned All-America honors by reaching the quarterfinals. The Bruins' run included wins against No. 5 Alina Mukhortova and Maria Sholokhova in the round of 16 and No. 18 DJ Bennett and Ava Hrastar of Virginia in the semifinals.
Center and Fakih jumped out to 5-1 advantage and broke the serve of Chervinsky and Collard four games later to secure an opening-set victories. In the second, the Cavaliers earned one break for 3-2 and another to send the match to a third.
Each of the super tiebreaker's first four points went the way of Chervinsky and Collard. Center and Fakih cut their deficit to 3-5 and 4-6 before the Cavaliers closed strong.
The tandem of Center and Fakih finished the fall with a 12-3 record. Eight of the pair's wins came against nationally-ranked foes.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
UCLA W. Tennis Postmatch - Olivia Center & Kate Fakih (Nov. 23, 2024)
Sunday, November 24
Media Availability - Coach Sampras Webster (May 15, 2024)
Thursday, May 16
NCAA First and Second Rounds
Friday, May 03
Postmatch Interviews: Fangran Tian/Rance Brown (May 27, 2023)
Saturday, May 27