Women's Tennis Blanks San Diego State to Reach NCAA Second Round
LOS ANGELES – The eighth-seeded UCLA women's tennis team beat San Diego State in under two hours Friday, earning a spot in the NCAA Championships second round. The Bruins' 4-0 win came on their home courts at Los Angeles Tennis Center.
Three 6-0 singles first sets were turned into victories for Ahmani Guichard, Tian Fangran and clincher Bianca Fernandez. Guichard and Tian also helped secure the doubles point. The Aztecs, who won the Mountain West Conference tournament, ended their season with a 16-7 record.
Texas Tech also prevailed Friday at LATC, beating Denver 4-1. The Bruins (19-5) meet the Lady Raiders (20-8) Saturday at 12 p.m. PT for a super-regional berth.
The tandem of Tian and Elise Wagle, which was named Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year earlier in the day, overcame a 1-3 deficit on the top court to beat Yasmine Kabbaj and Myah Ketchey 6-4. Tian/Wagle has won six decisions in a row. Another 6-4 decision followed on Court 3, as Guichard and Sasha Vagramov capitalized on an early 3-0 lead to take down Gloria Alogo and Zoe Olmos.
No. 32 Tian added a point to the total when No. 100 Kabbaj was forced to retire on Court 1, running her winning streak to five. Tian led 6-0, 1-0 at the time of Kabbaj's retirement.
Guichard left her Court 6 match against Zoe Olmos completely unscathed, posting a 6-0, 6-0 result. Guichard 18th singles win matched Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer's team-leading total.
No. 73 Fernandez put the finishing touches on UCLA's performance, besting Petchey 6-0, 6-3 on Court 3. Fernandez previously sealed the Bruins' 4-0 victory against Washington March 9.
Tennis Match Results
San Diego State vs UCLA
5/3/2024 at Los Angeles, CA
(Los Angeles Tennis Center)
#8 UCLA 4, #59 San Diego State 0
Singles competition
1. #32 Tian Fangran (UCLA) def. #100 Yasmine Kabbaj (SDSU) 6-0, 1-0, retired
2. #27 Kimmi Hance (UCLA) vs. #98 Andjela Skrobonja (SDSU) 6-6 (10-9), unfinished
3. #73 Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) def. Myah Petchey (SDSU) 6-0, 6-3
4. Elise Wagle (UCLA) vs. Gloria Alogo (SDSU) 6-6 (1-2), unfinished
5. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) vs. Andreea Velcea (SDSU) 6-6, unfinished
6. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) def. Zoe Olmos (SDSU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #13 Tian Fangran/Elise Wagle (UCLA) def. Yasmine Kabbaj/Myah Petchey (SDSU) 6-4
2. #42 Kimmi Hance/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) vs. Andjela Skrobonja/Andreea Velcea (SDSU) 4-5, unfinished
3. Ahmani Guichard/Sasha Vagramov (UCLA) def. Gloria Alogo/Zoe Olmos (SDSU) 6-4
Match Notes:
San Diego State 16-7; National ranking #59
UCLA 19-5; National ranking #8
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,6,3)
NCAA Championships - First Round