UCLA-USC rivalry to intensify as women’s tennis faces off against Trojans
Seniors Carling Seguso, left, and McCall Jones exchange a high five as doubles partners. Today’s match against the Trojans will be the last regular season game for the Bruins. UCLA comes into the match being the top-ranked team in the nation while USC is the No. 4-ranked team.
USC
Today, 3 p.m.
Los Angeles Tennis Center
Live stats online
By the Numbers
45
The Bruins led the Trojans 45-44 head-to-head
12-0
UCLA’s record at home
6
Number of players UCLA has ranked in the ITA Top 125
By Susana Vasquez
April 20, 2012 1:13 a.m.
The rivalry between Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi is considered by many as one of the greatest tennis rivalries of all time.
This rivalry concluded in 2002, but the intensity and energy they brought to the court is still remembered today.
Similarly, the UCLA–USC rivalry has transcended the court to become one of the best rivalries in college sports.
Every time these two teams face each other, an entire community of tennis aficionados ““ and UCLA–USC rivalry admirers ““ comes together to witness a battle for pride.
“It’s a crosstown rivalry and I think it adds notoriety to the match,” 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras said.
“Trying to get UCLA, the students, the fans and boosters to go out there and support the team ““ it’s great, and a little bit more personal. We’re in the same city … and so I think this just adds to what that match means.”
The match against USC today will not only add another chapter to the rivalry’s history, but it will also mark the last regular season home match for seniors Carling Seguso and McCall Jones.
Jones came to UCLA as a transfer student from Brigham Young University and Seguso has been a Bruin since her freshman year.
For both players, the match against USC prompts mixed emotions.
“It’s weird thinking that it’s going to be my last home match ever, but it’s almost an exciting feeling at the same time, but I’m just hoping that our team will perform well and that we will win for our senior day,” Jones said.
The bond between the two has grown this year, as they have been teamed to play doubles.
“Me and McCall, we have really good chemistry. We’re both pretty positive, we don’t get down on each other and it has been just a great experience and I think at the end, it’s going to be really fun to finish with someone who is also a senior,” Seguso said.
For coach Stella Sampras Webster, seeing the transformation of both players throughout the years has been rewarding. She also recognizes that both seniors have been an important part of the team’s success.
“(They’re) fighters on the court and they have such great chemistry together that I think it’s really one of their strengths as a team,” Sampras Webster said.
“They have definitely had a big impact on this team and they’ve influencedthe team; they have been doing a really good job helping lead this young team.”
