Team splits weekend against Stanford, Cal

Stanford d. UCLA 6-1 UCLA d. Cal 6-1

By Brian Kiley
Daily Bruin Contributor

In most cases, a weekend split isn’t a bad thing, when
that weekend includes matches against the No. 2 and No. 12 teams in
the country.

For No. 5 UCLA (16-4, 6-2), their 6-1 loss to No. 2 Stanford
(22-1, 8-0) Friday means it’s back to the drawing board
before the post-season begins next week, despite their 6-1 victory
over No. 12 Cal (12-9, 3-5) the following day.

“Stanford is very good, and they are very professional out
there,” UCLA head coach Stella Sampras said. “To be
able to beat the best teams we need to be stronger mentally and be
able to raise our level of play.”

UCLA got down early, losing the crucial doubles point. In a
showdown between the top two doubles teams in the country,
Stanford’s top-ranked Lauren Kalvaria and Gabriela Lastra
defeated UCLA’s Sara Walker and Petya Marinova 8-6.

UCLA’s Megan Bradley and Lauren Fisher, the No. 3 team in
the country, were defeated by Stanford’s No. 17 Erin Burdette
and Lauren Barnikow 8-5. Stanford completed the sweep with an 8-6
win at the No. 3 doubles spot.

“The team was ready. I think they were almost a little too
pumped up and came out a little tight,” Sampras said.
“We got off to some slow starts, especially at the No. 2
spot, and in an eight-game pro set you can’t afford to do
that.”

In the singles matches, UCLA kept the first sets close, but were
blown out in the second set of four of the six matches.

Walker went three sets for the Bruins, losing to Karlvaria 5-7,
6-4, 7-5, but Bradley, Marinova, Sarah Gregg, and Fisher were all
handled in straight sets.

“We set up points well, but we just don’t finish
them off,” Fisher said. “These girls are disciplined,
and they’re going to get the next ball back. If we’re
not putting it away than we’re not going to win.”

UCLA’s only point on the day came from Catherine Hawley,
who beat Emilia Anderson 6-7, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5) at No. 6 singles.

Saturday was Senior Day at the LATC but early on, Cal appeared
intent on spoiling the occasion. Cal raced out to a 5-0 lead at No.
1 doubles, and a 4-1 advantage at No. 3.

But then, Walker and Marinova showed why they are the No. 2
doubles team in the nation, and fought off two match points on
their way to a 9-7 win.

“(Cal) was playing really well,” Marinova said.
“But we stuck it out and were able to get to the
win.”

Bradley and Fisher won 8-2 at the No. 2 spot to clinch the
doubles point for the Bruins.

In singles play, Walker disposed of Cal’s No.1 player,
Raquel Kops-Jones 6-2, 6-1, making up for her tough loss Friday.
Bradley notched a 6-4, 6-3 win in a slugfest with Christina Fusano,
and Gregg and Hawley also recorded straight set wins.

Marinova outlasted Jieun Jacobs 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, to combine with
Hawley for a 3-0 record for Bruin seniors on the day.

Fisher was defeated in a tough three-set match, 7-6, 4-6, 2-6,
in Cal’s only win of the day.

UCLA finishes the season in second place in the Pac-10, and will
compete in the Pac-10 championships in Ojai starting Thursday.