W. tennis: Bruin women keep Bulldogs at bay
By Miriam Marlier
Feb. 16, 2004 9:00 p.m.
The UCLA women’s tennis team was ready to be tested after
dominating its match against UC Irvine 7-0 Thursday.
Friday afternoon’s match against Fresno State gave the
team exactly what it needed.
After sweeping three matches to secure the doubles point, UCLA
struggled in the singles but managed to hold on for a 4-3 victory
at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
“(Fresno State) is a good, solid team,” redshirt
junior Lauren Fisher said. “It was really good for us to play
them so that we could see where we’re at.”
No. 8 UCLA (4-3 overall) and No. 21 Fresno State (1-1) split the
singles matches, so it was the crucial doubles point that gave the
Bruins the edge. The teams of Lauren Fisher and Daniela Bercek,
Feriel Esseghir and Jackie Carleton, and Laura Gordon and Alex
McGoodwin all came up with wins over the Bulldogs.
“Winning the doubles point was definitely one of the
focuses of today’s match,” coach Stella Sampras Webster
said.
After moving on to singles play, the top half of UCLA’s
lineup was only able to win one of its three matches.
Despite dominating the first set, sophomore Jackie Carleton fell
to Jelena Pandzic 6-1, 1-6, 2-6 at the No. 1 position. UCLA’s
Daniela Bercek defeated Lucia Tallo 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 2 position,
but No. 3 Feriel Esseghir was forced to retire against Katharina
Winterhalter at 1-6, 1-0.
“Feriel’s foot was bothering her,” Sampras
Webster said of Esseghir’s situation.
Freshman Alex McGoodwin battled at the No. 4 spot until her 6-1,
2-6, 5-7 loss to Vlatka Jovanovic.
Junior Sarah Gregg came back to win her match at the No. 5 spot
against Lucia Sainz 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
“I was very impressed with Sarah,” Sampras Webster
said. “She came back after not playing well at the
beginning.”
Although Fisher was set to play singles and doubles, she retired
after winning her doubles match.
“My elbow hurt,” explained Fisher, who is coming
back to regular play from a long-term injury.
Sophomore Laura Gordon filled in at the No. 6 spot and defeated
Courtney Jantz 6-1, 6-3.
“Everyone competed really well,” Fisher said.
“It was great to get another win under our belt.”
The Bruins are already looking ahead to next week. They take on
No. 18 Arizona State on Friday.
