BOULDER, Colo. – The No. 20 UCLA women's tennis team continues Pac-12 play on the road this week when it faces Colorado and No. 74 Utah. Friday's matchup against the Buffaloes takes place at 12:30 pm PDT, and Sunday's televised tilt with the Utes begins at 11 am PDT.
After back-to-back wins against top-40 teams, the Bruins are back in the top 20 in the ITA team rankings. Rallying from a 2-0 deficit, UCLA registered a 5-2 win over then No. 38 Fresno State on Mar. 22. With the win, the Bruins avenged the 4-3 loss they suffered to the Bulldogs back in January at the 2016 ITA Kick-Off Weekend. Last time out, UCLA posted another come-from-behind win, this time edging then No. 35 Oregon, 4-3. Freshman Alaina Miller clinched the match for the Bruins on court 4 in a tight three setter against the Ducks' Nia Rose.
Miller breaks Rose to win it for UCLA! Bruins come back to win 4-3! #GoBruins #ucla #imabruin pic.twitter.com/Wzc9q99cEs
— UCLA Women's Tennis (@uclawtennis) March 26, 2016
The Bruins are led by the usual suspects in singles with seniors Catherine Harrison and Kyle McPhillips at the helm. No. 18 Harrison boasts a 12-2 record at the top of the lineup, while McPhillips owns the same mark at singles No. 2. Harrison is 6-2 against ranked opponents this spring. Miller has spent most of her time at No. 3, posting a 7-2 record there. The Bruin newcomer has clinched three matches for UCLA—Washington State (March 4), Washington (March 5), and Oregon (March 26). In doubles, the seventh-ranked pair of Harrison and McPhillips are 12-1 this spring, including an unblemished 5-0 record against ranked opponents.
Scouting the Buffaloes
Last time out, Colorado (6-11, 1-5 Pac-12) was swept by the Bay Area teams. After falling 7-0 to then No. 20 Stanford, the Buffs suffered a 7-0 loss to top-ranked Cal. In singles, Colorado is led by No. 74 Nuria Ormeno Ruiz, who has compiled a 10-7 mark. The Buffs are 5-2 at home this season.
Scouting the Utes
Utah (10-8, 1-5 Pac-12) also returns home from the Bay Area with two losses. The Utes are led by Margo Pletcher with a 5-11 mark at the top of the lineup. At No. 2, Sarah Richter is 5-9. Brianna Turley owns a 9-5 record playing in the No. 3 spot. In doubles, Pletcher and Turley are 11-3 at the top of the lineup. Last time out, the duo led Stanford's fourth-ranked pair of Taylor Davidson and Caroline Doyle, 5-3, as the Cardinal clinched the doubles point. Before hosting the Bruins on Sunday, the Utes face No. 39 Fresno State on March 31, followed by No. 27 Southern California on April 1.
Sunday's conference clash between UCLA and Utah will be televised live on Pac-12 Networks. Live stats are available here.