UCLA
USC (NCAA Rd. of 16)
Bruins Down Women of Troy, 4-2 in NCAA Round of 16
May 20, 2004 | Women's Tennis
May 20, 2004
Athens, Ga. - After losing both meetings during the regular season, the ninth-seeded UCLA women's tennis team (19-7) picked a good time to register its first win over USC (18-7) this year, defeating the eighth-seeded Women of Troy, 4-2 Thursday in the NCAA Round of 16 at the University of Georgia. With the win, the Bruins advance to Friday's quarterfinals and will meet unseeded Miami at 11:00 a.m. (EST).
Doubles action started the match and UCLA was forced to rally from behind to earn the point. After dropping an 8-4 decision at the No. 1 position, the Bruins came back to register a pair of 9-7 victories on court Nos. 2 and 3 to a 1-0 advantage in the match.
UCLA's Lauren Fisher, who lost her doubles match, came out strong in singles play, as she was first to finish her match at the No. 5 position. She gave UCLA a 2-0 lead after defeating Bernadette Bayani, 6-4, 6-3. Although the Bruins owned an early lead, the Women of Troy came back to tie the match at 2-2. At the No. 2 position, Carine Vermeulen knocked off Bruin sophomore Jackie Carleton, 6-3, 6-1. Right next door on court No. 3, USC's Anca Anastasiu rallied from a set down to defeat Feriel Esseghir, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Fortunately for UCLA, that was as close as USC would get. Next to finish was court No. 1, where freshman Daniela Bercek defeated Luana Magnani, 7-6, 6-1. The match was eventually clinched at the No. 6 position, where Laura Gordon defeated USC's Melissa Esmero, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. Gordon has been the hottest Bruin as of late, winning nine of her last 10 matches.
When play was suspended, UCLA's Sarah Gregg and USC's Dianne Matias were tied at 1-1 in the third set.
USC defeated UCLA by scores of 4-3 and 5-2 during the regular season.
Friday will mark the second meeting this season between UCLA and Miami. The Bruins defeated the Hurricanes, 4-3 at the Los Angeles Tennis Center back on Mar. 17. This marks the fourth time in the last five years that UCLA has advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals.
Doubles
| Pos. | Opponents | Score |
| 1. | (6) Magnani/Vermeulen (USC) def. (23) Bercek/Fisher (UCLA) | 8-4 |
| 2. | (43) Carleton/Esseghir (UCLA) def. Anastasiu/Matias (USC) | 9-7 |
| 3. | Gordon/Gregg (UCLA) def. Bayani/DeVera (USC) | 9-7 |
| UCLA Wins Doubles Point | ||
Singles
| Pos. | Opponents | Score |
| 1. | (31) Daniela Bercek (UCLA) def. (15) Luana Magnani (USC) | 7-6, 6-1 |
| 2. | (77) Carine Vermeulen (USC) def. (18) Jackie Carleton (UCLA) | 6-3, 6-1 |
| 3. | (46) Anca Anastasiu (USC) def. Feriel Esseghir (UCLA) | 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 |
| 4. | Sarah Gregg (UCLA) vs. Dianne Matias (USC) | Susp. |
| 5. | Lauren Fisher (UCLA) def. Bernadette Bayani (USC) | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 6. | Laura Gordon (UCLA) def. Melissa Esmero (USC) | 7-5, 3-6, 6-4* |
| * Denotes Clinching Match -- Singles Order of Finish: 5,2,3,1,6 | ||
