Kate Fakih (left) and Olivia Center (Photo: Neela Piper)
Center, Fakih to Play for NCAA Title Sunday
November 23, 2024 | Women's Tennis
WACO, Texas โ Freshmen Olivia Center and Kate Fakih of the UCLA women's tennis team will play for the NCAA Championships doubles title Sunday after earning their fourth win in as many days.
The Bruin pair will try to become the eighth in program history to capture the NCAA doubles championship. Gabby Andrews and Ayan Broomfield accomplished the feat most recently, in 2019. No all-freshman combination in UCLA history earned the women's doubles top spot.
In the semifinals, Center and Fakih outlasted DJ Bennett and Ava Hrastar of Auburn for a 6-2, 3-6, 1-0(7) result. The Bruins also used a 10-point tiebreaker to reach the quarterfinal round. Center and Fakih jumped out to a 4-0 advantage and cruised to the first-set win. Bennett and Hrastar answered emphatically, taking four of the first five second-set games en route to the super tiebreaker.
Bennett and Hrastar took a 4-2 lead in the 10-pointer. Center and Fakih pulled level at 4-4 before the Tigers retook the lead. The UCLA pair proceeded to tally five straight points and never looked back.
Center and Fakih take on Elaine Chervinsky and Melodie Collard of Virginia in the final. First serve from Hurd Tennis Center will take place no earlier than 10 a.m. PT.
The Bruin pair will try to become the eighth in program history to capture the NCAA doubles championship. Gabby Andrews and Ayan Broomfield accomplished the feat most recently, in 2019. No all-freshman combination in UCLA history earned the women's doubles top spot.
In the semifinals, Center and Fakih outlasted DJ Bennett and Ava Hrastar of Auburn for a 6-2, 3-6, 1-0(7) result. The Bruins also used a 10-point tiebreaker to reach the quarterfinal round. Center and Fakih jumped out to a 4-0 advantage and cruised to the first-set win. Bennett and Hrastar answered emphatically, taking four of the first five second-set games en route to the super tiebreaker.
Bennett and Hrastar took a 4-2 lead in the 10-pointer. Center and Fakih pulled level at 4-4 before the Tigers retook the lead. The UCLA pair proceeded to tally five straight points and never looked back.
Center and Fakih take on Elaine Chervinsky and Melodie Collard of Virginia in the final. First serve from Hurd Tennis Center will take place no earlier than 10 a.m. PT.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
UCLA W. Tennis Postmatch - Olivia Center & Kate Fakih (Nov. 23, 2024)
Sunday, November 24
Media Availability - Coach Sampras Webster (May 15, 2024)
Thursday, May 16
NCAA First and Second Rounds
Friday, May 03
Postmatch Interviews: Fangran Tian/Rance Brown (May 27, 2023)
Saturday, May 27