University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Friday, May 1
Tempe, Ariz.
10:00 AM (PT)
UCLA
4
vs
3
San Diego State
Olivia Center
Photo by: Don Liebig, UCLA Photography
Women's Tennis Edges San Diego State in NCAA Opener
May 01, 2026 | Women's Tennis
TEMPE, Ariz. โ The UCLA women's tennis team overcame a 3-1 deficit and desert heat to take down San Diego State 4-3 Friday in an NCAA Championship first-round marathon at Whiteman Tennis Center. Olivia Center delivered the deciding point, capping a four-hour match.
The Bruins (17-7), who never led until the final point, mounted their comeback on the bottom singles courts. Ahmani Guichard (Court 6), Bianca Fernandez (Court 4) and Center (Court 5) won in order. Mayu Crossley pulled UCLA level after the Aztecs (20-4) claimed the doubles point. Gloria Alogo and Jo-Yee Chan were victorious in singles play for San Diego State.
The Aztecs seized the closely-contested doubles point with wins on Courts 1 and 3. Alogo/Liisa Varul outlasted Kayla Chung/Ahmani Guichard 7-5 on Court 3 to establish an edge. Each of the remaining matchups was destined for a tiebreaker. Just one would finish, though, with Chan/Vessa Turley taking down No. 24 Center/Kate Fakih 7-6(3) on Court 1.
San Diego State kept momentum in its corner, collecting three singles first sets. No. 34 Crossley quickly rode hers to a victory, however, tying the score with a 6-3, 6-0 showing opposing Ninon Martinache on Court 2.
The Aztecs were not fazed, prevailing twice more to near the overall win. Chan handed No. 15 Lutkemeyer a 7-5, 6-3 defeat on Court 1 and Alogo added a 7-5, 6-0 display against Fakih on Court 3.
Guichard withstood a late rally from Teja Tirunelveli, holding on for a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory that cut San Diego State's lead to 3-2. Fernandez then evened matters up once more, outlasting Jayna Clemens 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2 on Court 4.
With all eyes on Court 5 and nearly a full set to be played, Center took control to complete the comeback. It was also a personal comeback for Center, who trailed 4-6, 4-5 before claiming her team-high sixth clincher of the season by a 4-6, 7-6(0), 6-3 margin.
The Bruins advance to face No. 16 seed and host Arizona State in Saturday's second round. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m. PT. The Sun Devils beat Denver 4-0 Friday.
Tennis Match Results
San Diego State vs UCLA
5/1/2026 at Tempe, AZ
(Whiteman Tennis Center)
#18 UCLA 4, #51 San Diego State 3
Singles competition
1. Jo-Yee Chan (SDSU) def. #15 Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 7-5, 6-3
2. #34 Mayu Crossley (UCLA) def. Ninon Martinache (SDSU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Gloria Alogo (SDSU) def. Kate Fakih (UCLA) 7-5, 6-0
4. Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) def. Jayna Clemens (SDSU) 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2
5. Olivia Center (UCLA) def. Vesa Gjinaj (SDSU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-3
6. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) def. Teja Tirunelveli (SDSU) 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Jo-Yee Chan/Vessa Turley (SDSU) def. #24 Olivia Center/Kate Fakih (UCLA) 7-6 (7-3)
2. Jayna Clemens/Ninon Martinache (SDSU) vs. #64 Mayu Crossley/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 6-6 (3-3), unfinished
3. Gloria Alogo/Liisa Varul (SDSU) def. Kayla Chung/Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) 7-5
Match Notes:
San Diego State 20-4; National ranking #51
UCLA 17-7; National ranking #18
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,1,3,6,4,5)
NCAA Championship - First Round
The Bruins (17-7), who never led until the final point, mounted their comeback on the bottom singles courts. Ahmani Guichard (Court 6), Bianca Fernandez (Court 4) and Center (Court 5) won in order. Mayu Crossley pulled UCLA level after the Aztecs (20-4) claimed the doubles point. Gloria Alogo and Jo-Yee Chan were victorious in singles play for San Diego State.
The Aztecs seized the closely-contested doubles point with wins on Courts 1 and 3. Alogo/Liisa Varul outlasted Kayla Chung/Ahmani Guichard 7-5 on Court 3 to establish an edge. Each of the remaining matchups was destined for a tiebreaker. Just one would finish, though, with Chan/Vessa Turley taking down No. 24 Center/Kate Fakih 7-6(3) on Court 1.
San Diego State kept momentum in its corner, collecting three singles first sets. No. 34 Crossley quickly rode hers to a victory, however, tying the score with a 6-3, 6-0 showing opposing Ninon Martinache on Court 2.
The Aztecs were not fazed, prevailing twice more to near the overall win. Chan handed No. 15 Lutkemeyer a 7-5, 6-3 defeat on Court 1 and Alogo added a 7-5, 6-0 display against Fakih on Court 3.
Guichard withstood a late rally from Teja Tirunelveli, holding on for a 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 victory that cut San Diego State's lead to 3-2. Fernandez then evened matters up once more, outlasting Jayna Clemens 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-2 on Court 4.
With all eyes on Court 5 and nearly a full set to be played, Center took control to complete the comeback. It was also a personal comeback for Center, who trailed 4-6, 4-5 before claiming her team-high sixth clincher of the season by a 4-6, 7-6(0), 6-3 margin.
The Bruins advance to face No. 16 seed and host Arizona State in Saturday's second round. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m. PT. The Sun Devils beat Denver 4-0 Friday.
Tennis Match Results
San Diego State vs UCLA
5/1/2026 at Tempe, AZ
(Whiteman Tennis Center)
#18 UCLA 4, #51 San Diego State 3
Singles competition
1. Jo-Yee Chan (SDSU) def. #15 Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 7-5, 6-3
2. #34 Mayu Crossley (UCLA) def. Ninon Martinache (SDSU) 6-3, 6-0
3. Gloria Alogo (SDSU) def. Kate Fakih (UCLA) 7-5, 6-0
4. Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) def. Jayna Clemens (SDSU) 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2
5. Olivia Center (UCLA) def. Vesa Gjinaj (SDSU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-3
6. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) def. Teja Tirunelveli (SDSU) 6-1, 3-6, 7-5
Doubles competition
1. Jo-Yee Chan/Vessa Turley (SDSU) def. #24 Olivia Center/Kate Fakih (UCLA) 7-6 (7-3)
2. Jayna Clemens/Ninon Martinache (SDSU) vs. #64 Mayu Crossley/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 6-6 (3-3), unfinished
3. Gloria Alogo/Liisa Varul (SDSU) def. Kayla Chung/Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) 7-5
Match Notes:
San Diego State 20-4; National ranking #51
UCLA 17-7; National ranking #18
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1); Singles (2,1,3,6,4,5)
NCAA Championship - First Round
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
12
Jayna Clemens/ Ninon Martinache [SDSU]
60
6UF
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
12
Jo-Yee Chan / 0 [SDSU]
76
53
#2 Singles Match
12
Ninon Martinache / 0 [SDSU]
30
66
#3 Singles Match
12
Gloria Alogo / 0 [SDSU]
76
50
#4 Singles Match
123
Jayna Clemens / 0 [SDSU]
472
666
#5 Singles Match
123
Vesa Gjinaj / 0 [SDSU]
663
476
#6 Singles Match
123
Teja Tirunelveli / 0 [SDSU]
165
637
Order of Finish:
2,1,3,6,4,5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ 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