Friday, May 9
College Station, Texas
12:00 PM
UCLA
at
Texas A&M
Ahmani Guichard (right) greets Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer
Photo by: Mac Brown
Women's Tennis Set for Super-Regional Showdown at Texas A&M
May 07, 2025 | Women's Tennis
The UCLA women's tennis team faces another SEC power on the road Friday, when it visits No. 2 seed Texas A&M in NCAA Championship super-regional action. First serve from Mitchell Tennis Center is scheduled for 12 p.m. PT. The Bruins (18-8) are coming off a 4-3 second-round triumph over Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn. The Aggies (27-3) bested UC Santa Barbara 4-1 at home to reach this stage. The winner of Friday's match will reach the tournament's finals site of Waco, Texas, where the last eight teams standing will compete for an NCAA title.
FOLLOW LIVE
Texas A&M provides live coverage (VIDEO | STATS)ย of matches played at Mitchell Tennis Center
Additionally, in-match updates for home and road contests can be found on the UCLA women's tennis X account.
UCLA IN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY
UCLA is one of two women's tennis programs (Stanford) to qualify for the NCAA Championships each year since the tournament format was adopted, stretching the run to 43 seasons with its latest selection. Head coach Stella Sampras Webster's teams have claimed each of the program's NCAA titles during that time, taking the top spots in 2008 and 2014. The Bruins improved their program's all-time record in NCAA play to 101-40 last week.
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 43rd
Overall Won-Lost Record: 101-40
Appearances Unseeded: Seventh
Round of 16 Appearances (Last): 39th (previously 2024)
Quarterfinal Round Appearances (Last): 27 (2024)
Semifinal Round Appearances (Last): 15 (2015)
Final Round Appearances (Last): 9 (2015)
NCAA Championships: 2 (2008, 2014)
PAST MATCHUPS
Series vs. Texas A&M: UCLA leads 3-1
NCAA Tournament Series vs. Texas A&M: 1-1
Most Recent vs. Texas A&M: UCLA won 4-0 at Los Angeles Tennis Center on Jan. 25, 2021 (Recap)
Most Recent NCAA Tournament vs. Texas A&M: UCLA won 4-0 on in Waco, Texas on May 15, 2015 (Recap)
LAST TIME OUT
UCLA advanced out of the Nashville, Tenn. regional, capping its weekend with a thrilling win against host and 15th-seeded Vanderbilt. The Bruins were dominant in a 4-0 opening-round victory against Harvard, as their top-court trio of Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer, Kimmi Hance and Elise Wagle accounted for three 6-1, 6-2 showings. The next day saw Vanderbilt take a 2-1 lead with a pair of singles wins. Wagle and Hance won again in order to put UCLA back ahead, only to have the Commodores tie it up. In the deciding match, Ahmani Guichard first overcame a 3-5 game deficit in her third set on Court 5. She then had to fend off two match points in the deciding tiebreaker, which she did en route to a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) victory.
IN THE RANKINGS
Team (May 1): No. 17 UCLA
Singles (May 1): No. 31 Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer, No. 39 Kate Fakih, No. 62 Elise Wagle, No. 93 Kimmi Hance
Doubles (May 1): No. 11 Olivia Center/Kate Fakih, No. 14 Kimmi Hance/Elise Wagle
* - set or matched career high
WOMEN'S TENNIS TRIO EARNS BIG TEN YEAR-END AWARDS
Three Bruins were recognized on April 23 by the Big Ten Conference, which announced its postseason honors as voted on by the league's head coaches. Individual award winners, All-Big Ten and All-Freshman selections and Sportsmanship Honorees were named. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer was voted a member of the All-Big Ten First Team. Kate Fakih and Kimmi Hance were tabbed Second-Teamers. Fakih was a unanimous pick to the All-Freshman Team. Hance was selected the Bruins' Sportsmanship Honoree.
UCLAccolades
Hance Earns Big Ten Honor to Cap Final Regular-Season Week โ April 22
Fakih Voted Big Ten Freshman of the Week for Fifth Time โ April 16
Lutkemeyer Named Big Ten Player of the Week for Second Time โ April 9
Fakih Earns Fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week Award โ April 9
Fakih Voted Big Ten Freshman of the Week Once Again โ March 5
Fakih Picks Up Fourth Big Ten Weekly Award โ Feb. 12
Wagle Voted Big Ten Player of the Week โ Feb. 5
Fakih Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week โ Jan. 29
Lutkemeyer Named to Big Ten Women's Tennis Player to Watch List โ Jan. 6
Lutkemeyer Tabbed Big Ten Player of the Week โ Nov. 13, 2024
Fakih Named Big Ten Player of the Week for Second Time โ Oct. 23, 2024
Fakih Named Big Ten Player of the Week โ Sept. 25, 2024
FALL RECAP
Bruins were in action at five fall tournaments, culminating with the first-ever fall NCAA individual championships. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer beat teammate Kate Fakih in the ITA West Sectional Championships singles final. Elise Wagle reached the semifinals. All three players qualified for NCAAs with their performances. The all-freshman combination of Fakih and Olivia Center collected the doubles title, earning another berth. Kimmi Hance and Elise Wagle started the campaign with a strong showing at the ITA All-American Championships, achieving runner-up status in the doubles field for an NCAA spot of their own. Center and Fakih would go on a run at NCAAs, beating three nationally-ranked pairs en route to the title match. The duo ultimately fell in a third-set tiebreaker, but finished the fall with a 14-3 record (9-3 against ranked teams). Fakih also went 14-5 in singles play, while Lutkemeyer posted a 13-4 mark. Lutkemeyer and Guichard teamed to go 12-4 in doubles contests.
SHIBAHARA SHINES
Ena Shibahara, who played for UCLA during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, has starred in doubles tournaments throughout her professional career and saw her career-high singles ranking rise from No. 503 to No. 132 in 2024. She earned her first Grand Slam championship in 2022, teaming with Wesley Koolhof to seize the mixed doubles title at Roland-Garros. Shibahara made her first major women's doubles final round alongside Shuko Aoyama at the 2023 Australian Open. Shibahara/Aoyama was the last pair standing at the 2023 National Bank Open in Toronto, giving each player her second WTA 1000 championship. Shibahara climbed to a career-best No. 4 position in the WTA's doubles rankings in March 2022 and entered 2025 at No. 46. She made her Grand Slam singles debut at the 2024 US Open, reaching the main draw as a qualifier before taking down Australia's Daria Saville in three sets. Shibahara went on to represent Japan at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup and made the most of her opportunity, beating then-No. 73 Jacqueline Cristian of Romania and then-No. 54 Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy.
STELLA'S STELLAR RÉSUMÉ
Head coach Stella Sampras Webster is in her 29th season at the helm of the UCLA women's tennis program, compiling an impressive overall record of 542-200 (.730). She is the second-longest-tenured active coach at UCLA, behind men's tennis head coach Billy Martin. Sampras Webster collected the 500th win of her illustrious career when the Bruins defeated UC San Diego on April 18, 2023. She has guided her alma mater to NCAA championships in 2014 and 2008, the first two in program history, and all three of its Pac-12 regular-season titles in 2024, 2021 and 2008. Sampras Webster's teams have finished top-10 nationally in 23 of her 27 completed seasons and in the top five 16 times. Four NCAA individual championships have been won under her watch: Tian Fangran in 2023, Gabby Andrews/Ayan Broomfield in 2019, Tracy Lin/Riza Zalameda in 2008 and Daniela Bercek/Lauren Fisher in 2004. Sampras Webster is a four-time Wilson ITA Southwest Regional Coach of the Year โ in 2024, 2021, 2012 and 2000 โ earned the national award in 2012. She was a four-time All-America honoree during her playing days at UCLA and as a freshman won the 1988 NCAA doubles title alongside Allyson Cooper.
FOLLOW LIVE
Texas A&M provides live coverage (VIDEO | STATS)ย of matches played at Mitchell Tennis Center
Additionally, in-match updates for home and road contests can be found on the UCLA women's tennis X account.
UCLA IN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY
UCLA is one of two women's tennis programs (Stanford) to qualify for the NCAA Championships each year since the tournament format was adopted, stretching the run to 43 seasons with its latest selection. Head coach Stella Sampras Webster's teams have claimed each of the program's NCAA titles during that time, taking the top spots in 2008 and 2014. The Bruins improved their program's all-time record in NCAA play to 101-40 last week.
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 43rd
Overall Won-Lost Record: 101-40
Appearances Unseeded: Seventh
Round of 16 Appearances (Last): 39th (previously 2024)
Quarterfinal Round Appearances (Last): 27 (2024)
Semifinal Round Appearances (Last): 15 (2015)
Final Round Appearances (Last): 9 (2015)
NCAA Championships: 2 (2008, 2014)
PAST MATCHUPS
Series vs. Texas A&M: UCLA leads 3-1
NCAA Tournament Series vs. Texas A&M: 1-1
Most Recent vs. Texas A&M: UCLA won 4-0 at Los Angeles Tennis Center on Jan. 25, 2021 (Recap)
Most Recent NCAA Tournament vs. Texas A&M: UCLA won 4-0 on in Waco, Texas on May 15, 2015 (Recap)
LAST TIME OUT
UCLA advanced out of the Nashville, Tenn. regional, capping its weekend with a thrilling win against host and 15th-seeded Vanderbilt. The Bruins were dominant in a 4-0 opening-round victory against Harvard, as their top-court trio of Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer, Kimmi Hance and Elise Wagle accounted for three 6-1, 6-2 showings. The next day saw Vanderbilt take a 2-1 lead with a pair of singles wins. Wagle and Hance won again in order to put UCLA back ahead, only to have the Commodores tie it up. In the deciding match, Ahmani Guichard first overcame a 3-5 game deficit in her third set on Court 5. She then had to fend off two match points in the deciding tiebreaker, which she did en route to a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) victory.
IN THE RANKINGS
Team (May 1): No. 17 UCLA
Singles (May 1): No. 31 Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer, No. 39 Kate Fakih, No. 62 Elise Wagle, No. 93 Kimmi Hance
Doubles (May 1): No. 11 Olivia Center/Kate Fakih, No. 14 Kimmi Hance/Elise Wagle
* - set or matched career high
WOMEN'S TENNIS TRIO EARNS BIG TEN YEAR-END AWARDS
Three Bruins were recognized on April 23 by the Big Ten Conference, which announced its postseason honors as voted on by the league's head coaches. Individual award winners, All-Big Ten and All-Freshman selections and Sportsmanship Honorees were named. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer was voted a member of the All-Big Ten First Team. Kate Fakih and Kimmi Hance were tabbed Second-Teamers. Fakih was a unanimous pick to the All-Freshman Team. Hance was selected the Bruins' Sportsmanship Honoree.
UCLAccolades
Hance Earns Big Ten Honor to Cap Final Regular-Season Week โ April 22
Fakih Voted Big Ten Freshman of the Week for Fifth Time โ April 16
Lutkemeyer Named Big Ten Player of the Week for Second Time โ April 9
Fakih Earns Fourth Big Ten Freshman of the Week Award โ April 9
Fakih Voted Big Ten Freshman of the Week Once Again โ March 5
Fakih Picks Up Fourth Big Ten Weekly Award โ Feb. 12
Wagle Voted Big Ten Player of the Week โ Feb. 5
Fakih Named Big Ten Freshman of the Week โ Jan. 29
Lutkemeyer Named to Big Ten Women's Tennis Player to Watch List โ Jan. 6
Lutkemeyer Tabbed Big Ten Player of the Week โ Nov. 13, 2024
Fakih Named Big Ten Player of the Week for Second Time โ Oct. 23, 2024
Fakih Named Big Ten Player of the Week โ Sept. 25, 2024
FALL RECAP
Bruins were in action at five fall tournaments, culminating with the first-ever fall NCAA individual championships. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer beat teammate Kate Fakih in the ITA West Sectional Championships singles final. Elise Wagle reached the semifinals. All three players qualified for NCAAs with their performances. The all-freshman combination of Fakih and Olivia Center collected the doubles title, earning another berth. Kimmi Hance and Elise Wagle started the campaign with a strong showing at the ITA All-American Championships, achieving runner-up status in the doubles field for an NCAA spot of their own. Center and Fakih would go on a run at NCAAs, beating three nationally-ranked pairs en route to the title match. The duo ultimately fell in a third-set tiebreaker, but finished the fall with a 14-3 record (9-3 against ranked teams). Fakih also went 14-5 in singles play, while Lutkemeyer posted a 13-4 mark. Lutkemeyer and Guichard teamed to go 12-4 in doubles contests.
SHIBAHARA SHINES
Ena Shibahara, who played for UCLA during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, has starred in doubles tournaments throughout her professional career and saw her career-high singles ranking rise from No. 503 to No. 132 in 2024. She earned her first Grand Slam championship in 2022, teaming with Wesley Koolhof to seize the mixed doubles title at Roland-Garros. Shibahara made her first major women's doubles final round alongside Shuko Aoyama at the 2023 Australian Open. Shibahara/Aoyama was the last pair standing at the 2023 National Bank Open in Toronto, giving each player her second WTA 1000 championship. Shibahara climbed to a career-best No. 4 position in the WTA's doubles rankings in March 2022 and entered 2025 at No. 46. She made her Grand Slam singles debut at the 2024 US Open, reaching the main draw as a qualifier before taking down Australia's Daria Saville in three sets. Shibahara went on to represent Japan at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup and made the most of her opportunity, beating then-No. 73 Jacqueline Cristian of Romania and then-No. 54 Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy.
STELLA'S STELLAR RÉSUMÉ
Head coach Stella Sampras Webster is in her 29th season at the helm of the UCLA women's tennis program, compiling an impressive overall record of 542-200 (.730). She is the second-longest-tenured active coach at UCLA, behind men's tennis head coach Billy Martin. Sampras Webster collected the 500th win of her illustrious career when the Bruins defeated UC San Diego on April 18, 2023. She has guided her alma mater to NCAA championships in 2014 and 2008, the first two in program history, and all three of its Pac-12 regular-season titles in 2024, 2021 and 2008. Sampras Webster's teams have finished top-10 nationally in 23 of her 27 completed seasons and in the top five 16 times. Four NCAA individual championships have been won under her watch: Tian Fangran in 2023, Gabby Andrews/Ayan Broomfield in 2019, Tracy Lin/Riza Zalameda in 2008 and Daniela Bercek/Lauren Fisher in 2004. Sampras Webster is a four-time Wilson ITA Southwest Regional Coach of the Year โ in 2024, 2021, 2012 and 2000 โ earned the national award in 2012. She was a four-time All-America honoree during her playing days at UCLA and as a freshman won the 1988 NCAA doubles title alongside Allyson Cooper.
Players Mentioned
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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