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Women's Tennis Beats Texas for NCAA Quarterfinals Spot

by uclabruins.com
May 10, 2024

LOS ANGELES – The eighth-seeded UCLA women's tennis team completed an undefeated run through its home schedule with a 4-1 victory against No. 9-seed Texas Friday, securing a quarterfinal-round spot at the NCAA Championships host site of Stillwater, Okla.

The Bruins (21-5) finished 13-0 at Los Angeles Tennis Center. Their first and last wins came versus the Longhorns (23-6). UCLA's quarterfinals berth represents the program's 27th in program history and first since 2021.

The freshman combination of Bianca Fernandez and Ahmani Guichard tallied the day's final two points, with Guichard providing the clincher after overcoming a 1-4 third-set deficit. Tian Fangran posted a two-win day. Bruins Kimmi Hance and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer teamed to take the deciding doubles match in thrilling fashion. Tanya Sasnouskaya accounted for Texas' lone point.
 

Charlotte Chavatipon and Vivian Ovrootsky dealt Guichard and Sasha Vagramov a 6-3 defeat on the third court to start doubles play. No. 13 Tian/Wagle answered on Court 1, though, picking up its eighth victory in as many decisions and fourth opposite a top-20 pair during the stretch. The latest came in a 6-2 showing against No. 19 Taisiya Pachkaleva/Sabine Zeynalova.

Trailing No. 34 Sasnouskaya/Malaika Rapolu 0-3 on Court 2, No. 42 Hance/Lutkemeyer seized five consecutive games. Sasnouskaya/Rapolu responded with three straight in its favor before the UCLA pair held serve for a tiebreaker. Hance/Lutkemeyer secured the first four points, but later had its lead trimmed to one. A marathon point there went the way of the Bruins, who won their ninth result in a row.

Four singles first sets went the way of UCLA. One went to the Longhorns on Court 4, where No. 42 Sasnouskaya went on to best Wagle 7-5, 6-2 to momentarily tie the overall score.

No. 32 Tian's team-high 18th dual-match singles victory – and ninth versus a nationally-ranked foe – put the Bruins back on top, a position they would not relinquish. The 6-2, 6-4 decision over No. 30 Zeynalova also ensured a second undefeated season at LATC for the defending NCAA singles champion.

Another ranked matchup finished next, with No. 73 Fernandez outlasting No. 85 Chavatipon 7-6(2), 6-4 on Court 3. Fernandez is second on the team with six wins against ranked players.

With Hance up a set and in a tiebreaker on Court 2, Guichard completed her comeback. The Seminole, Fla. native rolled to a 6-0 first-set victory, only to have Ovrootsky answer in the second. The Longhorn carried momentum well into the third set, as well, taking four of the first five games. That proved the end of her run and the start her opponent's, though, as each of the final five games finished in favor of Guichard.

UCLA next faces host and top-seeded Oklahoma State or No. 16-seed Tennessee in the Friday, May 17 quarterfinal round at Greenwood Tennis Center. The Cowgirls and Volunteers meet Saturday in super-regional play, with first serve in that one scheduled for 1 p.m. PT.

Tennis Match Results
Texas vs UCLA
5/10/2024 at Los Angeles, CA
(Los Angeles Tennis Center)

#8 UCLA 4, #9 Texas 1

Singles competition
1. #32 Tian Fangran (UCLA) def. #30 Sabina Zeynalova (TEX) 6-2, 6-4
2. #27 Kimmi Hance (UCLA) vs. #20 Malaika Rapolu (TEX) 6-3, 6-6 (3-6), unfinished
3. #73 Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) def. #85 Charlotte Chavatipon (TEX) 7-6 (7-2), 6-4
4. #42 Tanya Sasnouskaya (TEX) def. Elise Wagle (UCLA) 7-5, 6-2
5. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) vs. #122 Taisiya Pachkaleva (TEX) 3-6, 6-6 (4-3), unfinished
6. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) def. Vivian Ovrootsky (TEX) 6-0, 4-6, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. #13 Tian Fangran/Elise Wagle (UCLA) def. #19 Taisiya Pachkaleva/Sabina Zeynalova (TEX) 6-2
2. #42 Kimmi Hance/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) def. #34 Malaika Rapolu/Tanya Sasnouskaya (TEX) 7-6 (7-5)
3. Charlotte Chavatipon/Vivian Ovrootsky (TEX) def. Ahmani Guichard/Sasha Vagramov (UCLA) 6-3

Match Notes:
Texas 23-6; National ranking #9
UCLA 21-5; National ranking #8
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (4,1,3,6)
NCAA Championships - Super-Regional Round

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