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  MOHAMMAD ALAVI Freshman Lauren Fischer slams the ball in a match versus Texas last week.

By Hannah Gordon

Daily Bruin Contributor

When UCLA beat Arizona and Arizona State at the end of January, the season seemed to be getting off to a perfect start. The team was 2-0 and moved up to the No. 7 ranking while bumping Arizona State down to No. 9.

Since then, Arizona State has bounced back from the loss with eight straight wins while UCLA has slipped. While the Sun Devils improved to 9-3 on the season, UCLA has gone 3-9. Arizona State maintains its top-ten position back at No. 7, but UCLA has fallen to No. 32.

These changes are on the minds of the UCLA women’s tennis team as they travel to Arizona for a rematch this weekend. Yet the players remain determined as they have throughout their recent losing streak.

“We are set on beating Arizona and Arizona State,” freshman Mariko Fritz-Krockow said. “We beat them last time so we are confident we can do it again.”

This determination impresses Head Coach Stella Sampras.

“They’re still working hard, coming back and believing we can still have a successful season. That’s what I’m impressed with,” Sampras said.

The desert schools will be just as determined to avenge themselves of their early season loss.

The home-court advantage may play a key role this weekend given that Arizona State is undefeated at home, sweeping every match.

While the Bruins have been struggling to overcome injuries and ensuing line-up changes, they have been improving lately. Although they lost both of their matches this weekend, UCLA swept doubles against Miami for a close 4-3 match.

“Everyone is starting to play better. Now we are stepping up in doubles,” junior Petya Marinova said.

Marinova has been the strongest player during the team’s recent slump earning a No. 69 singles ranking. She has won all of her last five matches and hopes to go undefeated this weekend.

UCLA’s No. 1 singles player, sophomore Sara Walker, ranked 14th nationally, may be able to play this weekend. After being out for a month with a foot injury, Walker has been playing doubles and sometimes singles for about two weeks.

Given that Arizona State’s No. 1 player, Adria Engel, is ranked No. 12, Walker’s presence will be a great help in their attempts to beat the desert schools again.