University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
(L-R) Spencer Johnson, Mayu Crossley and Kaylan Bigun (Photos: Jon Mulvey, Lexie Wanninger)
Photo by: USTA
Bruins Continue to Have Success in SoCal Pro Series
June 22, 2026 | Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis
Current and former members of the UCLA men's and women's tennis teams have logged championship performances in the SoCal Pro Series, which started May 25 and continues through July 12. Kaylan Bigun, Spencer Johnson and Emon van Loben Sels have shined on the men's side, while Mayu Crossley and Kate Fakih have had successes of their own on the women's side.
The SoCal Pro Series, which showcases up-and-coming players based in Southern California, is in its fifth season on the $15,000 ITF World Tour/USTA Pro Circuit. Tournaments have been completed in Lakewood, Los Angeles and Irvine, with dates in Claremont, San Diego and Rancho Santa Fe still to come.
Lakewood (May 25-31 and June 1-7)
The series kicked off with back-to-back events at the Lakewood Tennis Center and Bigun quickly registered his first career ITF singles title. The Los Angeles native, who helped the Bruins to a Big Ten Conference championship in 2025, recovered to beat Israel's Amit Vales 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the final. Johnson joined Bigun in the semifinal round before being felled by Vales. There was also a pair of UCLA semifinalists on the women's side in Crossley and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer. Lutkemeyer would fall in the title match.
The second week in Lakewood belonged to Crossley, a Tokyo native who picked up her second career ITF $15,000 singles crown. The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year rolled to a 6-4, 6-3 result over two-time junior Grand Slam champion Kristina Penickova to seal it.
Los Angeles (June 8-14)
Bigun's success continued on the next stop, Rolling Hills Estates' Jack Kramer Club. Spencer Johnson reached the semifinals once again before dropping a decision to Andy Johnson. Bigun bested Andy Johnson 6-1, 7-5 for the championship. Sasha Vagramov, who competed for the Bruins from 2019-2024, nabbed spots in the women's singles and doubles semifinals. Vagramov and partner Salma Ewing were outlasted in the doubles final.
Irvine (June 15-21)
Spencer Johnson broke through to collect his first career professional titles at the Racquet Club of Irvine, starting Saturday alongside van Loben Sels. The pair fended off Noah Zamora/Sam Landau for a 6-7(5), 6-4, 1-0(6) victory, claiming the doubles championship. In 2025, van Loben Sels and Rudy Quan teamed to take the top doubles spot in San Diego. Johnson's perfect weekend wrapped up the next day, when he bested Bryce Nakashima 6-3, 7-6(1) to lift the singles trophy.
Fakih earned her first career ITF title alongside Lily Fairclough. The tandem took down Midori Castillo-Meza/Brandelyn Fulgenzi 7-6(6), 6-4 in the final. The Fakih/Fairclough partnership, like the Vagramov/Ewing one, consisted of players from UCLA and USC.
The SoCal Pro Series, which showcases up-and-coming players based in Southern California, is in its fifth season on the $15,000 ITF World Tour/USTA Pro Circuit. Tournaments have been completed in Lakewood, Los Angeles and Irvine, with dates in Claremont, San Diego and Rancho Santa Fe still to come.
Lakewood (May 25-31 and June 1-7)
The series kicked off with back-to-back events at the Lakewood Tennis Center and Bigun quickly registered his first career ITF singles title. The Los Angeles native, who helped the Bruins to a Big Ten Conference championship in 2025, recovered to beat Israel's Amit Vales 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the final. Johnson joined Bigun in the semifinal round before being felled by Vales. There was also a pair of UCLA semifinalists on the women's side in Crossley and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer. Lutkemeyer would fall in the title match.
The second week in Lakewood belonged to Crossley, a Tokyo native who picked up her second career ITF $15,000 singles crown. The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year rolled to a 6-4, 6-3 result over two-time junior Grand Slam champion Kristina Penickova to seal it.
Los Angeles (June 8-14)
Bigun's success continued on the next stop, Rolling Hills Estates' Jack Kramer Club. Spencer Johnson reached the semifinals once again before dropping a decision to Andy Johnson. Bigun bested Andy Johnson 6-1, 7-5 for the championship. Sasha Vagramov, who competed for the Bruins from 2019-2024, nabbed spots in the women's singles and doubles semifinals. Vagramov and partner Salma Ewing were outlasted in the doubles final.
Irvine (June 15-21)
Spencer Johnson broke through to collect his first career professional titles at the Racquet Club of Irvine, starting Saturday alongside van Loben Sels. The pair fended off Noah Zamora/Sam Landau for a 6-7(5), 6-4, 1-0(6) victory, claiming the doubles championship. In 2025, van Loben Sels and Rudy Quan teamed to take the top doubles spot in San Diego. Johnson's perfect weekend wrapped up the next day, when he bested Bryce Nakashima 6-3, 7-6(1) to lift the singles trophy.
Fakih earned her first career ITF title alongside Lily Fairclough. The tandem took down Midori Castillo-Meza/Brandelyn Fulgenzi 7-6(6), 6-4 in the final. The Fakih/Fairclough partnership, like the Vagramov/Ewing one, consisted of players from UCLA and USC.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Saturday, May 10
Friday, May 09
Monday, April 28
Friday, May 28