No. 8 Women's Tennis Wins Marathon in Malibu

Friday, February 20

Malibu, Calif.

2:00 PM (PT)

UCLA

No. 14 Pepperdine

Photo by: UCLA Athletics

No. 8 Women's Tennis Wins Marathon in Malibu

February 20, 2026 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

MALIBU, Calif. – The eighth-ranked UCLA women's tennis team won a marathon match at Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center Friday, beating No. 14 Pepperdine 4-3 behind Kate Fakih. The sophomore delivered the deciding victory in three sets on Court 3.

Fakih secured the final three games to defeat Chantal Sauvant 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 and complete a comeback for the Bruins (5-2), who have now won three matches in a row. The Waves (3-3) earned the doubles point and led 2-0, but Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer, Olivia Center, Mayu Crossley and Fakih would prevail in order for UCLA.

The Bruins' second-court doubles tandem of Lutkemeyer and Ahmani Guichard picked up its third win in a row, beating Sauvant/Alexia Harmon 6-1. Pepperdine answered on Court 1, where No. 48 Ziva Falkner/Sonja Zhiyenbayeva took down No. 62 Center/Fakih 6-1. The decider came on Court 3 with Waves Shihomi Leong and Duru Soke teaming to beat Crossley and Kayla Chung 6-2.

Each side picked up three singles first sets. The Waves' cushion moved to two points with Harmon's 6-1, 6-1 victory against Bianca Fernandez on Court 4.

Lutkemeyer knocked off No. 57 Ziva Falkner 6-3, 6-3 on Court 1, improving to 3-0 versus nationally-ranked players and cutting UCLA's deficit in half. Center then tied it up on Court 6. The sophomore's third consecutive win came by way of a 6-1, 6-1 display opposite Shihomi Leong.

Soke triumphed over Guichard, posting a 6-2, 6-2 result on Court 5 that left Pepperdine one point away from victory. The Bruins were left needing to overcome two lost first sets. The initial one was completed by No. 49 Crossley, who down Zhiyenbayeva 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 on Court 2. Crossley has won four singles contests in a row.

With all eyes on Court 3, No. 122 Fakih provided the heroics. The entire third set was played with the other matches finished. Fakih and Sauvant stayed on serve until the Wave broke for a 4-3 advantage. Fakih recovered quickly, however, answering with one of her own before securing the subsequent two games. She has now clinched seven team wins in her career.

UCLA returns to action Friday, Feb. 27, when it hosts No. 6 USC. The latest chapter of the crosstown rivalry, a non-conference matchup begins at 1 p.m. PT and represents the Bruins' GolDEN Match. The UCLA Band will be on hand and free pizza will be distributed to the first 100 fans.

Tennis Match Results
UCLA vs Pepperdine
2/20/2026 at Malibu, CA
(Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center)

#8 UCLA 4, #14 Pepperdine 3

Singles competition
1. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) def. #57 Ziva Falkner (PEPP) 6-3, 6-3
2. #49 Mayu Crossley (UCLA) def. Sonja Zhiyenbayeva (PEPP) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
3. #122 Kate Fakih (UCLA) def. Chantal Sauvant (PEPP) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Alexia Harmon (PEPP) def. Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) 6-1, 6-1
5. Duru Soke (PEPP) def. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) 6-2, 6-2
6. Olivia Center (UCLA) def. Shihomi Leong (PEPP) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. #48 Ziva Falkner/Sonja Zhiyenbayeva (PEPP) def. #62 Olivia Center/Kate Fakih (UCLA) 6-1
2. Ahmani Guichard/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) def. Alexia Harmon/Chantal Sauvant (PEPP) 6-1
3. Shihomi Leong/Duru Soke (PEPP) def. Kayla Chung/Mayu Crossley (UCLA) 6-2

Match Notes:
UCLA 5-2; National ranking #8
Pepperdine 3-3; National ranking #14
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,1,6,5,2,3)