This post was updated May 14 at 10:32 p.m.

Every freshman has started singles matches during their first season in Westwood since 2021.

Yet, not every recent freshman has clinched NCAA tournament matches.

But this season, both of UCLA women’s tennis’ consistent starting freshmen – Bianca Fernandez and Ahmani Guichard – have clinched a match in the NCAA championships after settling into their spots on court three and court six, respectively. The two have a combined 26-14 singles record as well as four doubles wins on court three together in their first season as Bruins.

Fernandez and Guichard’s most recent wins came in the Sweet 16 on Friday where No. 8 seed UCLA defeated No. 9 seed Texas, with the Bruins’ final two points coming first from Fernandez and second from Guichard. A week earlier, Guichard provided UCLA’s third match point in the first round against San Diego State with Fernandez delivering the final blow.

“The freshmen have come through for us,” said coach Stella Sampras Webster after the Sweet 16. “(Bianca has) worked really hard this last week and played some great tennis for us, and we really needed that. She was definitely key for us to get that match, really happy for her. Ahmani being able to clinch it under that pressure shows how she’s so strong mentally. … We’re really happy that they can handle that kind of pressure.”

Guichard hails from Seminole, Florida, and joined UCLA as a blue-chip recruit after reaching as high as No. 4 in the class of 2023 while a sophomore.

After first appearing at the ITA Southwest Regional Championships and other tournaments in the fall, the freshman has since settled into her spot on court six with an 12-5 record, culminating in an All-Pac-12 honorable mention nod.

“She doesn’t show a lot of emotion aside from really strong positive emotion,” Sampras Webster said. “She doesn’t look like she’s nervous, and I think she just plays hard and really lets her racquet do the talking. … She never gave up and sometimes that’s what it takes to win these matches.”

Guichard has been a stalwart starter on court three for doubles as well. Most recently, she partnered with redshirt senior Sasha Vagramov to clinch the doubles point in both of the Bruins’ Pac-12 championships matches as well as the first round of the NCAA championships against San Diego State.

News of Fernandez’ addition to the Bruins’ roster came closer to the start of the regular season than Guichard. The Montreal local did not sign with the West Coast squad until Nov. 10, waiting until the Freeman Memorial Championships in January for her first match as a Bruin.

Despite her late arrival, Fernandez said she was quickly welcomed by her teammates.

“Coming in here as a freshman, I just feel like I’ve been here for years,” Fernandez said. “That’s how comfortable they’ve made me feel.”

Her 3-0 record in the January tournament transitioned right into a court three opening at the Los Angeles Tennis Center, and Fernandez ultimately won her first played-out singles match of the season over then-No. 62 Safiya Carrington of Oklahoma State. Fernandez and her signature headband, which she wears in lieu of a visor or hat, have made their mark on the Bruins’ top courts all season.

Before she could secure wins in the postseason, however, Fernandez fell in straight sets against then-No. 7 Pepperdine and then-No. 11 USC to finish out the regular season as well as in UCLA’s match against Utah in the Pac-12 championships. The freshman said she has felt additional pressure playing on court three but can rely on her team for support during difficult periods.

“I did struggle a lot,” Fernandez said. “I understand everyone’s a key player, but number three, (you) have to be very solid, and when I’m not solid I’ve felt emotionally unstable. But that’s the point of having a team, talking to them and growing and they’re telling me all sorts of things to help me out.”

UCLA will be heading to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for the Elite Eight of the NCAA championships this week, where Fernandez and Guichard will have the chance at their third singles wins of the tournament in their first year in Westwood.

Guichard said she and Fernandez have found ways to support each other throughout the season.

“We all have a really good culture here,” Guichard said. “We just try to be there for each other. As freshmen it’s not easy, so (we are) just trying to stay positive throughout the way, and I’m really proud of her.”