Comeback win over Texas puts Bruins in quarterfinal match (ONLINE EXTRA!)

By Rekha Rao

Daily Bruin Contributor

With a comeback victory in singles and a game-winning match in
doubles, the No. 9 UCLA women’s tennis team soared to victory
and to the fourth round of the NCAA Division I Championship Friday
after beating the University of Texas on Thursday by a score of
5-2.

“It was a good day for us, a good day for the team. This
shows what UCLA tennis is all about,” senior Elizabeth
Schmidt said. “We just gave it our all today.”

Head coach Stella Sampras pointed to senior leadership.
“This team wanted it. We have three seniors on this team, and
they have played against Texas before in the NCAAs,” she
said.

The No. 7 Texas team put up a good fight, claiming both of its
victories in the singles matches.

Freshman sensation Sara Walker, ranked No. 2 in the nation, fell
to No. 13 Janet Walker, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2.

The motivation match of the singles play came from Schmidt, who
came from behind to beat Texas’ Kaysie Smashey 3-6, 6-3,
6-0.

“There were close singles matches, and players like
Schmidt came back and won those key matches for us,” Sampras
said. “The Schmidt match was huge, coming back and winning in
the third.”

Schmidt didn’t worry about a letdown after falling
behind.

“Losing the first set was hard and I could have gotten
down, but I just had to think that this is my senior year, and
every match could be my last,” she said. “I got a
little confidence in the second set, and it carried over to the
third.”

In other singles play, freshman Abigail Spears continued her
dominance on the court, beating Texas’ Joanne Masongsong in
straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.

“I knew I just had to play aggressive, because she is a
good player and gets a lot of balls back,” Spears said.

Senior Annica Cooper showed her years of experience by clinching
a much-needed victory over Texas’ Michelle Faucher, 7-6,
7-5.

The doubles play secured the victory for the Bruins, who led 4-2
after the singles matches were played.

“Doubles is so much fun. We both had so much
energy,” Spears said of herself and Schmidt. “We just
came out big, we were being aggressive and doing everything that we
had been practicing to do.”

The Schmidt and Spears duo claimed a victory over the Texas team
of Masongsong and Smashey with a 8-5 score to ensure the
Bruins’ placement into the quarterfinal match Friday
afternoon.

“Abby (Spears) did awesome. It is hard to be a freshman in
that position, and she really stepped up. I am lucky to have her as
a partner,” Schmidt said.

“We had a really good chance of winning after taking a 4-2
lead in the singles,” Sampras said. “We just won those
key matches, and that was the clue here.”

In the quarterfinal match, the Bruins take on the No. 1 team in
the nation, the Stanford Cardinal. UCLA has lost two times to
Stanford already this year, once at home and once on the road, both
with a score of 7-2.

“We have to do the same thing, we have to go for our shots
and just be aggressive,” Spears said.

Coach Sampras was in full agreement.

“(Friday) is going to be a tough match. I am glad that we
had a chance to play some doubles out here today to get the nerves
out,” she said.

“We’re going to be ready. This team can really do
it; they have a lot of heart. We are playing our best tennis right
now. We’re excited and we are going to get after
them.”

The UCLA women’s tennis team will play Stanford Friday at
2 p.m. at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center at Pepperdine.