University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Sunday, January 25
Baton Rouge, La.
10:00 AM (PT)
UCLA
1
at
4
No. 5 LSU
Kate Fakih (Photo: Imogen Moro)
No. 18 Women's Tennis Suffers Road Loss to No. 5 LSU
January 25, 2026 | Women's Tennis
BATON ROUGE, La. โ The 18th-ranked UCLA women's tennis team was stopped short in an ITA Kickoff Weekend championship match Sunday, falling to No. 5 LSU by a 4-1 score at LSU Tennis Complex. LSU qualified for next month's ITA National Team Indoor Championship tournament with its win.
The visiting Bruins (2-1), who beat No. 24 UCF 4-1 Saturday to advance, claimed the doubles point Sunday in thrilling fashion. The Tigers (4-0) took five singles first sets, however, and Carolina Kuhl ultimately provided the clinching win.
LSU held the initial advantage in doubles play, as Kenna Erickson and Ella McDonald beat Ahmani Guichard and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer 6-2 on Court 2. UCLA's Olivia Center and Kate Fakih answered on the top court, as the pair knocked off Cadence Brace/Kayla Cross for its third win in as many matches.
The focus turned to Court 3, which was already mid-tiebreaker. Bruin freshmen Kayla Chung and Mayu Crossley held a match point at 6-5, but Kuhl/Addison Lanton fought it off. Chung/Crossley would claim the final two points, though, and its second clincher of the season.
No. 78 Lanton pulled the Tigers level on Court 6, where she dealt Center a 6-4, 6-0 setback. McDonald then gave her team its first lead of the day with a 6-2, 6-3 display opposite No. 75 Fakih on Court 3. Soon after, Cross downed Crossley 6-4, 6-3 on Court 2.
UCLA's Bianca Fernandez was three tiebreaker points away from her second win of the weekend before the Court 5 contest was abandoned. Kuhl ensured a third set would not be needed on Court 4, holding off Guichard 6-2, 7-6(0) and ending the match.
The Bruins next travel to northern California for non-conference showdowns with No. 15 California and No. 9 Stanford. UCLA visits Cal's Hellman Tennis Complex Friday, Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m. PT before traveling down to Stanford's Arrillaga Tennis Center - Taube Pavilion Saturday, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m.
Tennis Match Results
UCLA vs LSU
1/25/2026 at Baton Rouge, LA
(LSU Tennis Complex)
#5 LSU 4, #18 UCLA 1
Singles competition
1. Cadence Brace (LSU) vs. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 7-6 (8-6), 3-1, unfinished
2. Kayla Cross (LSU) def. Mayu Crossley (UCLA) 6-4, 6-3
3. Ella McDonald (LSU) def. #75 Kate Fakih (UCLA) 6-2, 6-3
4. Carolina Kuhl (LSU) def. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) 6-2, 7-6 (7-0)
5. Florentine Dekkers (LSU) vs. Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) 5-7, 6-6 (2-4), unfinished
6. #78 Addison Lanton (LSU) def. Olivia Center (UCLA) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Olivia Center/Kate Fakih (UCLA) def. Cadence Brace/Kayla Cross (LSU) 6-4
2. Kenna Erickson/Ella McDonald (LSU) def. Ahmani Guichard/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 6-2
3. Kayla Chung/Mayu Crossley (UCLA) def. Carolina Kuhl/Addison Lanton (LSU) 7-6 (8-6)
Match Notes:
UCLA 2-1; National ranking #18
LSU 4-0; National ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,3,2,4)
ITA Kickoff Weekend - Championship Match
The visiting Bruins (2-1), who beat No. 24 UCF 4-1 Saturday to advance, claimed the doubles point Sunday in thrilling fashion. The Tigers (4-0) took five singles first sets, however, and Carolina Kuhl ultimately provided the clinching win.
LSU held the initial advantage in doubles play, as Kenna Erickson and Ella McDonald beat Ahmani Guichard and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer 6-2 on Court 2. UCLA's Olivia Center and Kate Fakih answered on the top court, as the pair knocked off Cadence Brace/Kayla Cross for its third win in as many matches.
The focus turned to Court 3, which was already mid-tiebreaker. Bruin freshmen Kayla Chung and Mayu Crossley held a match point at 6-5, but Kuhl/Addison Lanton fought it off. Chung/Crossley would claim the final two points, though, and its second clincher of the season.
No. 78 Lanton pulled the Tigers level on Court 6, where she dealt Center a 6-4, 6-0 setback. McDonald then gave her team its first lead of the day with a 6-2, 6-3 display opposite No. 75 Fakih on Court 3. Soon after, Cross downed Crossley 6-4, 6-3 on Court 2.
UCLA's Bianca Fernandez was three tiebreaker points away from her second win of the weekend before the Court 5 contest was abandoned. Kuhl ensured a third set would not be needed on Court 4, holding off Guichard 6-2, 7-6(0) and ending the match.
The Bruins next travel to northern California for non-conference showdowns with No. 15 California and No. 9 Stanford. UCLA visits Cal's Hellman Tennis Complex Friday, Jan. 30 at 1:30 p.m. PT before traveling down to Stanford's Arrillaga Tennis Center - Taube Pavilion Saturday, Jan. 31 at 3 p.m.
Tennis Match Results
UCLA vs LSU
1/25/2026 at Baton Rouge, LA
(LSU Tennis Complex)
#5 LSU 4, #18 UCLA 1
Singles competition
1. Cadence Brace (LSU) vs. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 7-6 (8-6), 3-1, unfinished
2. Kayla Cross (LSU) def. Mayu Crossley (UCLA) 6-4, 6-3
3. Ella McDonald (LSU) def. #75 Kate Fakih (UCLA) 6-2, 6-3
4. Carolina Kuhl (LSU) def. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) 6-2, 7-6 (7-0)
5. Florentine Dekkers (LSU) vs. Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) 5-7, 6-6 (2-4), unfinished
6. #78 Addison Lanton (LSU) def. Olivia Center (UCLA) 6-4, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Olivia Center/Kate Fakih (UCLA) def. Cadence Brace/Kayla Cross (LSU) 6-4
2. Kenna Erickson/Ella McDonald (LSU) def. Ahmani Guichard/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) 6-2
3. Kayla Chung/Mayu Crossley (UCLA) def. Carolina Kuhl/Addison Lanton (LSU) 7-6 (8-6)
Match Notes:
UCLA 2-1; National ranking #18
LSU 4-0; National ranking #5
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (6,3,2,4)
ITA Kickoff Weekend - Championship Match
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1,3
#1 Singles Match
123
610
Cadence Brace / 0 [LSU]
73UF
#2 Singles Match
12
43
Kayla Cross / 0 [LSU]
66
#3 Singles Match
12
23
Ella McDonald / 0 [LSU]
66
#4 Singles Match
12
26
Carolina Kuhl / 0 [LSU]
67
#5 Singles Match
123
760
Florentine Dekkers / 0 [LSU]
56UF
#6 Singles Match
12
40
Addison Lanton / 0 (78/-) [LSU]
66
Order of Finish:
6,3,2,4
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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