UCLA
Loyola Marymnt
Women's Tennis Team Sweeps LMU
June 21, 1999 | Women's Tennis
January 22, 1999
LOS ANGELES - In the season opening women's tennis dual match between No. 8 UCLA and Loyola Marymount at the Los Angeles Tennis Center today, UCLA prevailed 9-0. The match was scheduled to be played yesterday, but postponed due to rain.
UCLA head coach Stella Sampras used the season opener as an opportunity to rest two players and gain valuable court time for several others. Two freshman made their dual-match debuts today, while two juniors returned from injuries which kept them out of the lineup last season.
UCLA junior Amanda Basica finally played her first dual match at home for the Bruins as she defeated LMU freshman Julie Hladik 6-1, 6-2. In the No. 4 position, junior Katia Roubanova posted a solid 6-1, 6-1 win over LMU junior Jacque Haas. Making her debut in the No. 5 position, rookie Petya Marinova defeated LMU junior Brahna Pastorini 6-3, 6-3. Also playing her first dual match for UCLA, Rochelle Raiss downed LMU sophomore Holli Freudenberg 6-1, 6-1 on court No. 6.
The closest match of the day took place on court No. 1 as LMU senior Laura Gross claimed the first set 6-2, before UCLA sophomore Cristina Popescu, who ranks No. 11 in the nation, regrouped to win 6-0, 6-2 in the final two sets. The Bruins lone senior and team captain Brandi Freudenberg stepped up to the No. 3 slot and had little trouble defeating LMU sophomore Milica Cukulic 6-0, 6-0. In addition, a No. 7 singles exhibition match was played with UCLA sophomore Jennifer Donahue defeating LMU freshman Velana Kassab 6-0, 6-0.
Junior Elizabeth Schmidt did not compete at all today while classmate Annica Copper, who reached the semifinals of the National Collegiate Tennis Classic last weekend and the finals of the Pac-10 Indoor Championships the week before, only played doubles in today's match.
With gaining more competitive match time being the focus, doubles were competed despite the score. UCLA's No. 1 team of Cooper and Basica defeated Gross and Hladik 8-2. Marinova teamed with Popescu to win 8-1 over H. Freudenberg and Pastorini on court No. 2. UCLA's B. Freudenberg paired with Raiss for an 8-2 victory over Haas and Cukulic in the No. 3 slot.
The Bruins' homestand heats up next week as UCLA plays four times during the week. The Bruins start by hosting the University of San Diego on Wednesday, Jan. 27, then open Pac-10 Conference action over the weekend against Arizona on Jan. 29 and ASU on Jan. 30. The homestand concludes with local-rival Pepperdine on Tues., Feb. 2. Each of these matches begin at 1:30 p.m. and will be played at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the UCLA campus. Admission to all UCLA's home tennis matches is free.
Here are today's position-by-position results:
SINGLES
No. 1 (11) Cristina Popescu (UCLA) def. Laura Gross (LMU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 No. 2 (30) Amanda Basica (UCLA) def. Julie Hladik (LMU) 6-1, 6-2 No. 3 Brandi Freudenberg (UCLA) def. Milica Cukulic (LMU) 6-0, 6-0 No. 4 Katia Roubanova (UCLA) def. Jacque Haas (LMU) 6-1, 6-1 No. 5 Petya Marinova (UCLA) def. Brahna Pastorini (LMU) 6-3, 6-3 No. 6 Rochelle Raiss (UCLA) def. Holli Freudenberg (LMU) 6-1, 6-1 No. 7 (Ex) Jennifer Donahue (UCLA) def. Velana Kassab (LMU) 6-0, 6-0
DOUBLES
No. 1 Annica Cooper/Amanda Basica (UCLA) vs. Laura Gross/Julie Hladik (LMU) 8-2 No. 2 Petya Marinova/Cristina Popescu (UCLA) def. Brahna Pastorini/Holli Freudenberg (LMU) 8-1 No. 3 Brandi Freudenberg/Rochelle Raiss (UCLA) vs. Jacque Haas/Milica Cukulic (LMU) 8-2* Note: No. 7 singles is an exhibition match and does not count
Final Team Score: UCLA 9, LMU 0
