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Bolton, Bruins Best Waves at Indoors

by uclabruins.com
Feb 7, 2021
Elysia Bolton (Photo: ITA)

STILLWATER, Okla. – In a match that lasted three-and-a-half hours, the No. 2 UCLA women's tennis team outlasted No. 5 Pepperdine for a 4-2 win Sunday in an ITA National Team Indoors Championships consolation match at Greenwood Tennis Center.

Elysia Bolton played the part of hero for the Bruins (4-1), overcoming 0-3 and 2-5 third-set deficits to capture a tiebreaker and the deciding point. Annette Goulak and Jada Hart also picked up victories for UCLA, which also earned the doubles point. The Waves dropped to 3-2 with the loss.

With its top-ranked tandem of Bolton and Hart locked in a back-and-forth affair on the top court, the Bruins secured the doubles point behind dominant efforts on Courts 2 and 3. Annette Goulak and Vivian Wolff bounced back from their Saturday loss in a major way, rolling past Astrid Olsen and Nikki Redelijk by a 6-1 score.

For the second time in as many matches, Abi Altick and Taylor Johnson proved victorious. The pair followed Goulak and Wolff's example with a 6-2 defeat of Taisiya Pachkaleva and Lisa Zaar to take the doubles point, something UCLA was unable to do in Saturday's narrow semifinal-round loss to Texas.

The Bruins jumped out to an early advantage in singles play with five first-set wins. Pepperdine did not go quietly, though, as three matches were destined for third sets.

The Waves tied the score on Court 4, where Pachkaleva handed Wolff a 6-2, 6-1 loss. No. 19 Hart answered on Court 3, however, knocking off No. 45 Lexi Ryngler, 6-1, 6-3, for her second triumph over a ranked opponent in as many days.

Goulak, who dropped the deciding tiebreaker in the loss Saturday, came out on top of another important one against Redelijk Sunday. A 9-7 decision was the result of this one and Goulak would not allow for a third set, pulling away from Redelijk for a 7-6(7), 6-2 victory and putting UCLA one point away from the overall win.

Altick and No. 7 Abbey Forbes both fell in second-set tiebreakers in search of the clinching victory. Forbes was eventually overcome by No. 33 Jessica Failla, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4, on the top court.

No. 9 Bolton posted a convincing first-set win over No. 12 Shiori Fukuda, who answered right back in the second. Momentum on her side, Fukuda led 3-0 and 5-2 in third set and looked bound to add a third point for Pepperdine. Bolton had something to say for that, though, securing the next four points and, ultimately, the tiebreaker.

The Bruins will be back in action Saturday, Feb. 13, when they visit the University of San Diego for a 1 p.m., PT match.

Tennis Match Results
Pepperdine vs UCLA
2/7/2021 at Stillwater, OK
(Greenwood Tennis Center)

#2 UCLA 4, #5 Pepperdine 2

Singles competition
1. #33 Jessica Failla (PEPP) def. #7 Abbey Forbes (UCLA) 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4
2. #9 Elysia Bolton (UCLA) def. #12 Shiori Fukuda (PEPP) 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(3)
3. #19 Jada Hart (UCLA) def. #45 Lexi Ryngler (PEPP) 6-1, 6-3
4. #88 Taisiya Pachkaleva (PEPP) def. Vivian Wolff (UCLA) 6-2, 6-1
5. Abi Altick (UCLA) vs. Lisa Zaar (PEPP) 6-2, 6-7(5), 3-5, unfinished
6. Annette Goulak (UCLA) def. Nikki Redelijk (PEPP) 7-6(7), 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #1 Elysia Bolton/Jada Hart (UCLA) vs. Jessica Failla/Shiori Fukudua (PEPP) 4-3, unfinished
2. Annette Goulak/Vivian Wolff (UCLA) def. Astrid Olsen/Nikki Redelijk (PEPP) 6-1
3. Abi Altick/Taylor Johnson (UCLA) def. Taisiya Pachkaleva/Lisa Zaar (PEPP) 6-2

Match Notes:
Pepperdine 3-2; National ranking #5
UCLA 4-1; National ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3); Singles (4,3,6,1,2)
ITA National Team Indoor Championships – Consolation Match

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