SALT LAKE CITY – The 14th-ranked UCLA women's tennis team defeated Utah 4-0 Friday afternoon at George S. Eccles Tennis Center. Competition began outdoors before being moved to nearby indoor courts.
Elise Wagle prevailed in clinching fashion for the Bruins (13-4, 6-1 Pac-12), who won their 11th match in 12 tries. Also triumphant in singles play for UCLA were Tian Fangran and Bianca Fernandez. The Utes dropped to 10-7 overall and 2-4 in conference play.
Doubles matches were played entirely outdoors, where the teams fought through cold and windy conditions. The Bruins' 79th-ranked combination of Kimmi Hance and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer improved to 7-1, beating Samantha Horwood and Kat Lyman 6-3 on Court 2. Then, with the top-court matchup moving toward a 5-5 score, Fernandez and Ahmani Guichard secured the doubles point on Court 3. With the UCLA pair holding a 5-4 advantage and staring down a deuce point, Guichard's serve was returned long by Sara Akid and Kaila Barksdale.
Singles play also started on the outdoor courts, but was moved inside a few games into first sets. No. 80 Fernandez topped Barksdale 6-4, 6-2 on Court 3, completing a two-win day, for the first decision.
No. 31 Tian ran her personal winning streak to 11 in finished matches, taking down No. 107 Lopez 6-4, 6-4 on the top court. With her latet result, Tian has beaten all five nationally-ranked foes she has encountered during the run.
Wagle completed the shutout by recording a 6-3, 6-2 victory opposite Ana Luiza Cruz on Court 5. Wagle has clinched a team-high four wins this season. No other Bruin has sealed more than two.
UCLA completes its mountain trip Sunday, when it visits Colorado. First serve from the CU-Boulder South Campus Tennis Complex is scheduled for 10 a.m. PT.
Tennis Match Results
UCLA vs Utah
4/5/2024 at Salt Lake City, UT
(George S. Eccles Tennis Center)
#14 UCLA 4, #47 Utah 0
Singles competition
1. #31 Tian Fangran (UCLA) def. #107 Marcela Lopez (UTAH) 6-4, 6-4
2. Yuhan Liu (UTAH) vs. #32 Kimmi Hance (UCLA) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0, unfinished
3. #80 Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) def. Kaila Barksdale (UTAH) 6-4, 6-2
4. Kat Lyman (UTAH) vs. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0, unfinished
5. Elise Wagle (UCLA) def. Ana Luiza Cruz (UTAH) 6-3, 6-2
6. Sara Akid (UTAH) vs. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) 7-5, 4-6, 0-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Ana Luiza Cruz/Marcela Lopez (UTAH) vs. #43 Tian Fangran/Elise Wagle (UCLA) 4-5, unfinished
2. #79 Kimmi Hance/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) def. Samantha Horwood/Kat Lyman (UTAH) 6-3
3. Bianca Fernandez/Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) def. Sara Akid/Kaila Barksdale (UTAH) 6-4
Match Notes: UCLA 13-4; National ranking #14
Utah 10-7; National ranking #47
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,1,5)
Elise Wagle prevailed in clinching fashion for the Bruins (13-4, 6-1 Pac-12), who won their 11th match in 12 tries. Also triumphant in singles play for UCLA were Tian Fangran and Bianca Fernandez. The Utes dropped to 10-7 overall and 2-4 in conference play.
Doubles matches were played entirely outdoors, where the teams fought through cold and windy conditions. The Bruins' 79th-ranked combination of Kimmi Hance and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer improved to 7-1, beating Samantha Horwood and Kat Lyman 6-3 on Court 2. Then, with the top-court matchup moving toward a 5-5 score, Fernandez and Ahmani Guichard secured the doubles point on Court 3. With the UCLA pair holding a 5-4 advantage and staring down a deuce point, Guichard's serve was returned long by Sara Akid and Kaila Barksdale.
Singles play also started on the outdoor courts, but was moved inside a few games into first sets. No. 80 Fernandez topped Barksdale 6-4, 6-2 on Court 3, completing a two-win day, for the first decision.
No. 31 Tian ran her personal winning streak to 11 in finished matches, taking down No. 107 Lopez 6-4, 6-4 on the top court. With her latet result, Tian has beaten all five nationally-ranked foes she has encountered during the run.
Wagle completed the shutout by recording a 6-3, 6-2 victory opposite Ana Luiza Cruz on Court 5. Wagle has clinched a team-high four wins this season. No other Bruin has sealed more than two.
UCLA completes its mountain trip Sunday, when it visits Colorado. First serve from the CU-Boulder South Campus Tennis Complex is scheduled for 10 a.m. PT.
Tennis Match Results
UCLA vs Utah
4/5/2024 at Salt Lake City, UT
(George S. Eccles Tennis Center)
#14 UCLA 4, #47 Utah 0
Singles competition
1. #31 Tian Fangran (UCLA) def. #107 Marcela Lopez (UTAH) 6-4, 6-4
2. Yuhan Liu (UTAH) vs. #32 Kimmi Hance (UCLA) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0, unfinished
3. #80 Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) def. Kaila Barksdale (UTAH) 6-4, 6-2
4. Kat Lyman (UTAH) vs. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0, unfinished
5. Elise Wagle (UCLA) def. Ana Luiza Cruz (UTAH) 6-3, 6-2
6. Sara Akid (UTAH) vs. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) 7-5, 4-6, 0-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. Ana Luiza Cruz/Marcela Lopez (UTAH) vs. #43 Tian Fangran/Elise Wagle (UCLA) 4-5, unfinished
2. #79 Kimmi Hance/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) def. Samantha Horwood/Kat Lyman (UTAH) 6-3
3. Bianca Fernandez/Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) def. Sara Akid/Kaila Barksdale (UTAH) 6-4
Match Notes: UCLA 13-4; National ranking #14
Utah 10-7; National ranking #47
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (3,1,5)