This post was updated April 1 at 10:05 p.m.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines “versatility” as a “diversity of nature or character.”

But an athlete might define it as an ability to play in a variety of situations, with a variety of teammates, against a variety of opponents.

And if you asked the Bruins, they could say it’s a skill they developed this weekend.

No. 24 UCLA women’s tennis (8-7, 3-3 Big Ten) wrapped up a weekend of Big Ten travel with a 4-0 sweep of Penn State (13-5, 4-4) on Sunday in University Park, Pennsylvania, after falling to No. 12 Ohio State (13-2, 7-1) by a score of 4-1 on Friday in Columbus, Ohio. The matchups against the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions were the Bruins’ first on the road against unfamiliar conference foes.

“I was really happy that they were able to deal with the adversity and go out and do their job,” said coach Stella Sampras Webster.

The coach decided to mix up UCLA’s doubles lineup against Ohio State, pairing senior Elise Wagle with junior Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer for the first time since 2023. The duo defeated the Buckeyes’ Sydni Ratliff and Dani Schoenly 6-2.

“Regardless of who we play doubles with, it’s going to be good,” Wagle said. “The change-up was interesting, but it was also a good look for us to show that we can do well regardless who we play with.”

UCLA’s other new tandem, senior Kimmi Hance and sophomore Ahmani Guichard – who had never competed as a doubles pair prior to Friday – couldn’t find the same success, falling to Nao Nishino and Audrey Spencer 6-4.

“We really wanted to see if there was another combination that would make all three teams stronger,” Sampras Webster said. “We did well, but they hadn’t played enough together for us to probably be what we needed to be to win against Ohio State.”

No. 3 freshmen Olivia Center and Kate Fakih – who were elevated to court one in the Bruins’ lineup shuffle – took No. 15 Teah Chavez and Luciana Perry to a tie-breaker set, but the Buckeye sophomores ultimately took the frame, and doubles point, 7-6(0).

“We honestly played really well,” Center said. “Just at the end, it got a little bit tight, and we stopped being as aggressive.”

Ohio State continued to find its stride at home in singles. No. 8 Perry defeated No. 78 Hance 6-4, 6-2, and No. 96 Spencer bested Center 6-2, 6-4 to put the Buckeyes at the brink of victory.

No. 64 Wagle answered with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over No. 122 Nishino, but Ratliff bested Fakih 7-5, 6-3 to seal the Bruins’ fate.

While the weather in Columbus ultimately held clear – and the Buckeyes remain a program with both an outdoor and indoor tennis center – their bout with the Bruins was held inside at Ty Tucker Tennis Center.

“It’s a different feel playing indoor tennis,” Sampras Webster said. “We’re used to the Pac-12. We’re so familiar with the coaches and how they do things, so we’ve got to learn a whole new set of rules on whether you play indoor or outdoor.”

UCLA continued its venture east and after a five-hour bus ride, arrived in University Park to face Penn State.

“Changing time zones is never going to be easy,” Wagle said. “So it has been difficult, but everyone, like USC, has to adjust as well. It’s just one of those, it’s another obstacle that we have to adjust to.”

The Bruins returned to their tried and true doubles lineup of No. 31 Hance and Wagle on court one, Center and Fakih on two, and Guichard and Lutkemeyer on three Sunday morning.

The change, coupled with lower-ranked doubles opponents, coincided with the doubles point falling in UCLA’s favor. The reunited Guichard and Lutkemeyer nicked a 6-1 victory over Maria Daciana Ciubotaru and Jelena Vico just before Center and Fakih bested Jordina Cegarra and Patricia Grigoras 6-4.

In singles, Guichard and Center defeated Cegarra 6-3, 6-2 and Ciubotaru 6-3, 6-2, respectively, with the latter clinching the sweep for the Bruins.

“I was really just playing next to Amani, which I enjoyed,” Center said. “We were pumping each other up. I kept my energy high the entire match, from the first point to the last point, and I think that really helped me.”

But arguably UCLA’s biggest win of the day came from Wagle – the only Bruin who went undefeated over the weekend – who bageled Vico 6-0, 6-0.

“She’s been super consistent, solid and executing some really smart, good tennis,” Sampras Webster said. “To beat a college player 0 and 0, she had to be very focused and not give away any free points, which is so easy at times when you’re in control.”

To celebrate their win Sunday, the Bruins went to the largest university ice cream shop in the nation, the Penn State Berkey Creamery.

“We’re all at a creamery right now,” Wagle said. “Vibes are good, and we’re ready to get back home. We’re ready to get back to training.”