Return of key players fuels women’s tennis’ takedown of Northwestern
Sophomore Terri Fleming won her doubles game with junior Kelly Shaffer and her singles game with a 6-2, 6-3 victory. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)
Women's tennis
| No. 26 Northwestern | 1 |
| No. 21 UCLA | 6 |
By Ishan Ayyalasomayajula
Feb. 7, 2016 8:08 p.m.
An increasingly healthy UCLA women’s tennis team dominated Sunday afternoon, as the No. 21 Bruins scored a 6-1 victory over the visiting No. 26 Northwestern Wildcats.
The Bruins (3-1) were buoyed by the return of junior Kelly Shaffer and sophomore Terri Fleming from injury – the pair scored a 6-3 victory over the Wildcat duo of Maddie Lipp and Lee Or.
Fleming, sidelined by a patella tendon tear from last season’s NCAA tournament, felt the turning point in her return came when she won her first singles game after falling behind two games to none against Jillian Rooney. She ultimately took a 6-2, 6-3 victory.
“I was a little nervous, missing balls, being overly aggressive. … I started to loosen up and make points after that first one,” Fleming said.
Shaffer was making her first appearance on the court after a hip injury sidelined her early last year. Though Northwestern’s Brooke Rischbieth won 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, Shaffer felt her performance was a successful return to the court.
“I’m happy with how I played in doubles, I’m going to continue to work on my movement with my hip and (am) really proud of my effort,” Shaffer said. “Once I got my heart rate down and not as excited … I focused on serves and on (each) specific point (after the first set).
Coach Stella Sampras Webster said she did not know what to expect going into this match, as players were returning from injury and they were facing an unfamiliar ranked Northwestern team.
“I was really pleased with our doubles, especially with a new team of (Fleming and Shaffer),” Sampras Webster said. “Playing the way they did was really impressive.”
Match fitness is an area to focus on for both Fleming and Shaffer, as both players planned to play more matches in practice to ease the transition for their bodies back into playing form.
Bruin players were successful all over the courts as senior Kyle McPhillips, freshman Alaina Miller and sophomore Kristin Wiley all won in straight sets. No.18-ranked Catherine Harrison downed No. 61-ranked Lipp 6-4 (7-4), 7-6 as well.
UCLA has a doubleheader this upcoming weekend, as it plays UC Davis and Cal State Northridge at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on Saturday.
