Junior Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer’s three-set win on court one put the Bruins a match away from victory with three singles courts left up for grabs Saturday.

But then, sophomore Bianca Fernandez fell 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 to Ninon Martinache. And senior Kimmi Hance lost 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-4 to Jo-Yee Chan.

With Saturday’s fate in her hands, Ahmani Guichard forced a third set – and led it 6-5.

But the sophomore fumbled – allowing the Aztecs’ Zoe Olmos to fight for a third set tiebreaker and win 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(3).

Three straight losses in singles meant UCLA women’s tennis (5-3) dropped a 4-3 decision to San Diego State (6-4) at the Aztec Tennis Center in San Diego. Saturday was the Aztecs’ first win this season over a ranked opponent.

“It came down to a little nerves,” said coach Stella Sampras Webster. “Their players were playing very free and very and really going after their shots. I think we played a little more scared.”

Sampras Webster added that she rested senior Elise Wagle against the Aztecs, with Fernandez – who qualified for the 2024 NCAA singles tournament but had appeared just once in 2025 prior to Saturday – taking her place.

Wagle’s absence meant UCLA’s No. 13 doubles tandem – typically featuring Wagle and Hance – was split. But even with the slight change of pace, Fernandez and Hance bested Gloria Alogo and Olmos 6-2 while Guichard and Lutkemeyer defeated Martinache and Chan 6-3 to capture the doubles point for the Bruins.

Freshman Olivia Center fell 6-2, 6-2 to Liisa Varul, evening the score early into singles contention, but freshman Kate Fakih put the Bruins back ahead with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Alogo.

Fakih, who qualified for the NCAA singles in the fall and appeared in the NCAA doubles national championship match alongside Center, has yet to lose any of her eight singles matches in 2025.

“I’ve been working really hard with the coaches – fitness wise,” Fakih said. “We had a good break after indoors (the ITA National Team Indoor Championships) and I think it was vital for me, especially for my performance.”

Sampras Webster moved Lutkemeyer, who typically plays on singles court two for the Bruins, to court one for just the second time in her UCLA career – the first time coming Feb. 2 when Hance, who’s regularly taken the No. 1 spot, was injured. The coach said she wanted to develop more flexibility in the Bruins’ lineup and find a formula that works best.

Lutkemeyer delivered – defeating reigning Mountain West Player of the Year Yasmine Kabbaj 6-3, 2-6, 6-2.

But after that, things got away from the Bruins.

“There were moments where we needed to bring the energy, where we didn’t,” Lutkemeyer said. “And so they (the Aztecs) did a really good job of competing and just coming back.”

UCLA’s next trip is to the courts across town, taking on No. 21 USC on Friday.

“Ahead of SC, you’re just trying to get a lot of good training in (and) get back to basics,” Lutkemeyer said. “Figure out what went wrong today.”