University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Shibahara to Round of 16, Doubles Falls
May 25, 2017 | Women's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. โ It was a day of mixed results for UCLA at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, as Ena Shibahara moved on to the Round of 16 in the singles championships, while the duo of Shibahara-Jada Hart dropped its opener in the doubles competition. The morning session at the University of Georgia saw Shibahara dispatch Arizona's Lauren Marker in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5. Hart, meanwhile, was forced to medically retire in a 6-3, 5-2 loss to Hadley Berg and Paige Cline of South Carolina in the afternoon.
Shibahara buried Marker early in the first set, as the fifth-ranked and fourth-seeded freshman secured four of the first five games. She coasted to a first-set win, but clouds began to form above the Feilds Courts. Each player took a game to begin the second set, at which point the rain began and the match was delayed.
Following the delay, Shibahara took the next three games and raced out to another 4-1 lead. No. 39 Marker did not go quietly, however, as the senior took the next three to answer and inch closer to a possible third set. Her back was immediately put against the wall, though, as Shibahara took the next game and a 5-4 advantage. Marker again answered, but Shibahara was finally able to eliminate the veteran Wildcat, 6-3, 7-5.
Playing in their first match together since February 26, Shibahara and Hart battled early, but the No. 12 duo was unable to gain momentum against No. 25 Berg and Cline. The Gamecocks were able to go on a run of their own, as the pair secured three consecutive games en route to a 6-3 first-set win. An injury to Hart plagued the Bruins in the second set, during which the Bruins were forced to take a medical retirement and give the Round of 16 berth to the South Carolina team.
Shibahara-Hart completes its campaign with a 14-5 record. It won seven of eight matches in dual-match play, as each of the decisions came on Court 1.
Next up for Shibahara is a 7:00 a.m., PT showdown with Sydney Campbell of Vanderbilt. The 15th-ranked Campbell holds a 28-5 record that was improved upon Thursday with a 6-4, 7-6 (1) win over Shannon Hudson of Arkansas.
Stay connected to @uclawtennis on Twitter and NCAA.com for further updates.
Players Mentioned
