Saturday, February 8
Urbana, Ill.
7:00 AM
UCLA
2
vs
4
LSU
Kate Fakih (Photo: Illinois Athletics)
Women's Tennis Has Comeback Try Stopped at Indoors
February 08, 2025 | Women's Tennis
URBANA, Ill. – The sixth-ranked UCLA women's tennis team nearly overcame a 3-0 deficit, but ultimately dropped a 4-2 result to No. 16 LSU in ITA National Team Indoor Championships consolation play Saturday at Atkins Tennis Center.
The Bruins (3-2) will play one more consolation match Sunday. UCLA's Kate Fakih and Elise Wagle triumphed to chip away at the Tigers' lead in the backdraw opener. LSU (6-1) claimed the doubles point and then received wins from Cadence Brace, Kayla Cross and Kinaa Graham. Graham clinched the victory in three sets with the Bruins nearing a win in the only unfinished contest.
In the only ranked matchup of doubles play, No. 71 Brace/Cross jumped out to a 3-0 lead before adding a second break of serve to beat No. 9 Wagle/Kimmi Hance 6-2 on Court 1. The loss was the first of dual-match doubles play for Hance and Wagle. Tilwith Di Girolami and Anita Sahdiieva then took the final four games on Court 2 to close out a 6-2 clinching victory versus Fakih and Olivia Center.
Singles first sets were split across the six courts. Brace took control on Court 1, increasing LSU's lead to 2-0 with her 6-0, 6-2 win against Hance. Cross won 10 of the first 12 games on Court 2 before Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer charged back, but the Bruin's counter was not enough. The 6-1, 7-5 decision put the Tigers one point away from a team victory.
No. 53 Wagle continued to have success indoors, defeating Di Girolami 7-6(3), 6-3 on Court 3. No. 56 Fakih then took over her third set with No. 115 Sahdiieva, prevailing by a 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 margin. Fakih and Wagle each improved to 4-0 in dual-match singles play Saturday.
With Center leading 5-2 in the deciding set on Court 6, Graham sealed the team win. Graham broke the serve of Guichard for a 6-5 advantage and then closed out the 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 result on Court 5.
Tennis Match Results
LSU vs UCLA
2/8/2025 at Urbana, IL
(Atkins Tennis Center)
#16 LSU 4, #6 UCLA 2
Singles competition
1. Cadence Brace (LSU) def. Kimmi Hance (UCLA) 6-0, 6-2
2. Kayla Cross (LSU) def. #17 Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 6-1, 7-5
3. #53 Elise Wagle (UCLA) def. Tilwith Di Girolami (LSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
4. #56 Kate Fakih (UCLA) def. #115 Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) 6-1, 1-6, 6-2
5. Kinaa Graham (LSU) def. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) 2-6, 7-5, 7-5
6. Olivia Center (UCLA) vs. Kenna Erickson (LSU) 3-6, 7-5, 5-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #71 Cadence Brace/Kayla Cross (LSU) def. #9 Kimmi Hance/Elise Wagle (UCLA) 6-2
2. Tilwith Di Girolami/Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) def. #3 Olivia Center/Kate Fakih (UCLA) 6-2
3. #30 Ahmani Guichard/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) vs. Kenna Erickson/Gaby Rivera (LSU) 5-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
LSU 6-1; National ranking #16
UCLA 3-2; National ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,2,3,4,5)
ITA National Team Indoor Championships - Consolation Match
The Bruins (3-2) will play one more consolation match Sunday. UCLA's Kate Fakih and Elise Wagle triumphed to chip away at the Tigers' lead in the backdraw opener. LSU (6-1) claimed the doubles point and then received wins from Cadence Brace, Kayla Cross and Kinaa Graham. Graham clinched the victory in three sets with the Bruins nearing a win in the only unfinished contest.
In the only ranked matchup of doubles play, No. 71 Brace/Cross jumped out to a 3-0 lead before adding a second break of serve to beat No. 9 Wagle/Kimmi Hance 6-2 on Court 1. The loss was the first of dual-match doubles play for Hance and Wagle. Tilwith Di Girolami and Anita Sahdiieva then took the final four games on Court 2 to close out a 6-2 clinching victory versus Fakih and Olivia Center.
Singles first sets were split across the six courts. Brace took control on Court 1, increasing LSU's lead to 2-0 with her 6-0, 6-2 win against Hance. Cross won 10 of the first 12 games on Court 2 before Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer charged back, but the Bruin's counter was not enough. The 6-1, 7-5 decision put the Tigers one point away from a team victory.
No. 53 Wagle continued to have success indoors, defeating Di Girolami 7-6(3), 6-3 on Court 3. No. 56 Fakih then took over her third set with No. 115 Sahdiieva, prevailing by a 6-1, 1-6, 6-2 margin. Fakih and Wagle each improved to 4-0 in dual-match singles play Saturday.
With Center leading 5-2 in the deciding set on Court 6, Graham sealed the team win. Graham broke the serve of Guichard for a 6-5 advantage and then closed out the 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 result on Court 5.
Tennis Match Results
LSU vs UCLA
2/8/2025 at Urbana, IL
(Atkins Tennis Center)
#16 LSU 4, #6 UCLA 2
Singles competition
1. Cadence Brace (LSU) def. Kimmi Hance (UCLA) 6-0, 6-2
2. Kayla Cross (LSU) def. #17 Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 6-1, 7-5
3. #53 Elise Wagle (UCLA) def. Tilwith Di Girolami (LSU) 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
4. #56 Kate Fakih (UCLA) def. #115 Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) 6-1, 1-6, 6-2
5. Kinaa Graham (LSU) def. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) 2-6, 7-5, 7-5
6. Olivia Center (UCLA) vs. Kenna Erickson (LSU) 3-6, 7-5, 5-2, unfinished
Doubles competition
1. #71 Cadence Brace/Kayla Cross (LSU) def. #9 Kimmi Hance/Elise Wagle (UCLA) 6-2
2. Tilwith Di Girolami/Anita Sahdiieva (LSU) def. #3 Olivia Center/Kate Fakih (UCLA) 6-2
3. #30 Ahmani Guichard/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) vs. Kenna Erickson/Gaby Rivera (LSU) 5-5, unfinished
Match Notes:
LSU 6-1; National ranking #16
UCLA 3-2; National ranking #6
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (1,2,3,4,5)
ITA National Team Indoor Championships - Consolation Match
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
12
Kenna Erickson/ Gaby Rivera [LSU]
50
5UF
Order of Finish:
1,2
#1 Singles Match
12
Cadence Brace / 0 [LSU]
66
02
#2 Singles Match
12
Kayla Cross / 0 [LSU]
67
15
#3 Singles Match
12
Tilwith Di Girolami / 0 [LSU]
63
76
#4 Singles Match
123
Anita Sahdiieva / 0 (115/-) [LSU]
162
616
#5 Singles Match
123
Kinaa Graham / 0 [LSU]
277
655
#6 Singles Match
1234
Kenna Erickson / 0 [LSU]
6520
375UF
Order of Finish:
1,2,3,4,5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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