LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The 29th-ranked UCLA women's tennis team hosts two matinee matches this week. First up, the Bruins go head to head with crosstown rival No. 38 USC at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, followed by No. 45 Baylor at 12 p.m. on Saturday. Both matches take place at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
UCLA (5-3) is fresh off a tough 5-2 loss to top-ranked Cal. The Bruins jumped out to an early lead, taking the doubles point. After Alaina Miller and Kristin Wiley defeated Lynn Chi and Stephane Lin 6-2 on court 3, the senior duo of Catherine Harrison and Kyle McPhillips took down the second-ranked pair in the nation in Cal's Maegan Manasse and Denise Starr on court 1 to clinch the point for UCLA. Despite the 1-0 lead, the Bruins were unable to keep pace with the Golden Bears in singles play.
Cal quickly registered three straight wins to go up 3-1. UCLA sophomore Terri Fleming then notched what would be the Bruins' lone point in singles. The Golden Bears clinched the match when fifth-ranked Klara Fabikova edged McPhillips in a three setter on court 2.
The Bruins are led by the usual suspects in singles. No. 19 Harrison is 5-2 in dual match singles, while McPhillips boasts a 7-1 mark. In doubles, the senior duo is 8-0 with a 2-0 record against ranked opponents. In the newest ITA Rankings, Harrison and McPhillips secured the No. 5 spot in doubles.
Scouting USC
The Trojans (3-3) are on a two-match losing streak, most recently falling to top-ranked Cal 6-1. No. 38 Giuliana Olmos registered the lone point for USC when she toppled No. 13 Maegan Manasse in straight sets. Despite losing the doubles point to the Bears, the Trojans came away with a big win on court 1 when 11th-ranked Olmos and Gabby Smith defeated second-ranked Manasse and Starr, 6-4.
In the new ITA Rankings out Tuesday, USC has five players ranked nationally in singles—No. 21 Olmos, No. 60 Rianna Valdes, No. 66 Jessica Failla, No. 85 Smith, and No. 90 Madison Westby. In doubles, the Trojans have two ranked pairs—No. 8 Olmos/Smith and No. 28 Failla/Smith.
This match will count towards the BMW Crosstown Cup where the Trojans are currently leading 55-35 throughout the 2015-16 athletic season.
Scouting Baylor
Last time out, the Bears (4-5) came up short against then sixth-ranked Vanderbilt. Baylor snapped a three-match losing streak in the doubles point and got out to an early lead against the Commodores. The 20th-ranked duo of Kiah Generette and Blair Shankle produced a 6-2 upset over sixth-ranked Courtney Colton and Sydney Campbell at the top of the lineup. In singles, Baylor tallied the first point to take a 2-0 lead. However, Vanderbilt went on to win all five remaining singles matches to capture the victory.
In the latest ITA Rankings, Shankle and Generette punch in at No. 15 in doubles. The Bears do not currently have any players ranked in singles.
Before facing the Bruins on Saturday, the Bears take on No. 20 Texas A&M on Wednesday, Feb. 24.