Coach Stella Sampras Webster’s squad concocted a recipe at Saturday’s bout.

The ingredients they added to the mix – adversity, chemistry and composure.

No. 6 UCLA women’s tennis (2-0) swept Washington (1-1) at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. Using their newest addition to their cookbook, the Bruins earned their first trip to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships since 2021.

“It’s the best we have played so far – which is really exciting,” Sampras Webster said. “Everyone wanted this so bad.”

In doubles, the Bruins developed the foundation of their recipe.

Sophomore Ahmani Guichard and junior Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer defeated Washington’s Catherine Gagnon and McKenna Koenig 6-0.

“Ahmani and I love playing with each other,” Lutkemeyer said. “We’re best friends off the court – so playing together is the best thing ever – and we have really good on court chemistry.”

No. 4 freshman Kate Fakih and Olivia Center defeated No. 115 Sophie Luescher and Erika Matsuda 6-3 to secure the doubles point for the Bruins.

“It’s amazing – we have really good chemistry, and we have known each other since we were 10,” Fakih said. “We just gel on the court well.”

Headed into singles, it was time to execute the recipe.

With a forehand down the line, Center defeated No. 104 Carina Syrtveit 6-1, 6-2. For the second consecutive time this season, the freshman earned UCLA its second point of the match.

On court two, No. 38 Lutkemeyer fought back from being down 4-2 to capture the first frame against No. 121 Washington’s Reece Carter. She only dropped a single game in the second set, concocting the ingredients to finish 7-5, 6-1.

Lutkemeyer said composure helped her adapt as the match wore on.

“For me, it’s keeping the understanding that momentum shifts are just a part of tennis,” Lutkemeyer said. “I’m not always going to be up, and I’m not always going to be down.”

The final step was to serve the dish on a platter.

With a ball to the net, No. 41 Fakih defeated Koenig 6-3, 6-4 to tally the Bruins’ fourth point of the day.

For Fakih, the win accomplished a personal goal.

“We have never made it (ITA Indoor Championships) in the seniors’ years that they’ve been here,” Fakih said. “I wanted to do it for them – I wanted to help contribute to making it for them.”

Up next, UCLA will travel north to face California on Saturday before the squad take its talents to the ITA Indoor Championships, beginning Feb. 7, in Evanston, Illinois, and Urbana, Illinois.