UCLA
Miami
No. 12 Bruins Edge No. 16 Hurricanes, 4-3
March 17, 2004 | Women's Tennis
March 17, 2004
LOS ANGELES - The No. 12-ranked UCLA women's tennis team handed No. 16 Miami just its second loss of the season Wednesday, posting a 4-3 decision over the Hurricanes at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. The Bruins, who push their winning streak to four in a row, improve to 10-5 with the victory. Miami falls to 9-2 with the loss.
UCLA started the match by securing the one point awarded for doubles play with a pair of wins at the Nos. 2 and 3 courts. The Hurricanes managed a close 9-7 victory at the No. 1 position after the point had already been decided.
Once singles play began, the Hurricanes quickly tied the match at 1-1 when Audrey Banada defeated Bruin junior Lauren Fisher, 6-2, 6-1 at the No. 5 position.
Next to finish was court No. 6, where UCLA's Laura Gordon was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Sihem Bennacer.
With the Bruins ahead 2-1 in the dual match, Miami then posted a pair of straight-set victories to take a 3-2 lead. At court No. 2, Melissa Applebaum registered a 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 decision over Bruin sophomore Feriel Esseghir. At the No. 1 position, MeganBradley, ranked ninth in the nation, battled back for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 victory over 28th-ranked Jackie Carleton.
Two matches still remained on court and UCLA needed to win both to pull out the victory. Next to finish was court No. 3, where 40th-ranked Daniela Bercek overcame Mari Toro, 6-3, 6-4. The match was clinched at court No. 4, where Bruin junior Sarah Gregg defeated Staci Stevens, 6-3, 7-6(4).
The match was a homecoming of sorts for two former Bruins now with the Hurricanes. Paige Yaroshuk-Tews was a Bruin letterwinner from 1992-96 and is now head coach at Miami. Bradley played her freshman season at UCLA back in 2002, earning All-American honors.
UCLA will have a two-week hiatus for final exams and spring break before returning to the courts against UNLV on Mar. 31.
Doubles
| Pos. | Opponents | Score |
| 1. | (44) Applebaum/Bradley (UM) def. (23) Carleton/Esseghir (UCLA) | 9-7 |
| 2. | Fisher/Gordon (UCLA) def. Bennacer/Robbins (UM) | 8-5 |
| 3. | Bercek/Gregg (UCLA) def. Banada/Toro (UM) | 8-3 |
| UCLA Wins Doubles Point | ||
Singles
| Pos. | Opponents | Score |
| 1. | (9) MeganBradley (UM) def. (28) Jackie Carleton (UCLA) | 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 2. | Melissa Applebaum (UM) def. Feriel Esseghir (UCLA) | 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 |
| 3. | (40) Daniela Bercek (UCLA) def. Mari Toro (UM) | 6-3, 6-4 |
| 4. | Sarah Gregg (UCLA) def. Staci Stevens (UM) | 6-3, 7-6(4)* |
| 5. | Audrey Banada (UM) def. Lauren Fisher (UCLA) | 6-2, 6-1 |
| 6. | Laura Gordon (UCLA) def. Sihem Bennacer (UM) | 6-3, 6-3 |
| * Denotes Clinching Match -- Singles Order of Finish: 5, 6, 2, 1, 3, 4 | ||
