UCLA
USC
Bruins to Host Waves, Visit Trojans
February 16, 2017 | Women's Tennis
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Two ranked Southern California foes are on the docket for the No. 20 UCLA women's tennis team this weekend, as it hosts No. 8 Pepperdine Friday (1:30 p.m.) and No. 22 USC Saturday (12:00 p.m.). Live stats for Friday's match will be available HERE. Saturday's non-conference match versus the crosstown rival Trojans will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks.
Since its home-opening doubleheader wins over Saint Mary's and UC Santa Barbara (Feb. 4), the Bruins took a trip south to the University of San Diego for a Feb. 12 road date with the Toreros. Despite a first-set loss by Jada Hart in singles play due to retirement, the Bruins were ultimately victorious, 5-2. The UCLA doubles teams made quick work of USD to clinch the first point of the afternoon, as No. 12 pair Ena Shibahara and Jada Hart, as well as the duo of Terri Fleming and Gabby Andrews, recorded straight set wins.
In addition to her contribution to the doubles point, Andrews also picked up the clinching point in singles play. With the Bruins leading just 3-2, the sophomore held off the Toreros' Sophia Chow on Court 5, 7-6, 6-3, for her second consecutive win in as many decisions. UCLA then tacked on a fifth point when Shibahara defeated Nicole Anderson (6-2, 6-4) on Court 1 to remain unbeaten in her dual-match decisions. The freshman has not dropped a set in her five wins.
The Bruins will take on another WCC opponent when it hosts No. 8 Pepperdine on Friday. The Waves, who hold a 3-3 record, will be making their return to the Southland following its cross-country trip to New Haven, Conn. for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. Pepperdine defeated Texas A&M, 4-2, in the first round of the tournament, before it dropped its quarterfinal matchup versus Georgia, 4-1, and a consolation match to Texas Tech, 4-0.
UCLA, which suffered a 6-1 loss to the Waves last season (Feb. 18), holds a 54-14 all-time advantage in the series. Pepperdine is represented in the latest ITA/Oracle singles rankings by No. 7 Luisa Stefani, No. 14 Mayar Sherif, No. 22 Ashley Lahey and No. 72 Laura Gulbe. No. 4 Christine Maddox and Sherif and No. 28 Stefani and Apichaya Runglerdkriangkrai are found in the doubles rankings.
USC, meanwhile, will be playing its first match in over two weeks when it hosts the Bruins Saturday. The Trojans, who canceled their home match versus top-ranked Florida on Feb. 3, hold an overall record of 3-1 on the season.
The Bruins possess the lead in the overall series with the Trojans by the narrowest of margins, 51-49. The rivals split their two matches last season, with each team winning on its home court. UCLA's Alaina Miller twice defeated USC's Gabby Smith in singles play in 2016. Smith, a junior, is the Trojans top-ranked singles player (No. 25) in the early season. She is 4-0 on Court 2. The Trojans' top-ranked doubles team of Zoë Katz and Madison Westby came in at No. 14 when the latest ITA/Oracle rankings were announced.
Following this weekend, the Bruins will travel to Berkeley to face No. 9 California in another non-conference tune-up Friday, Feb. 24. The match will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the Hellman Tennis Complex.
Players Mentioned
