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Laura Gordon won her doubles match with partner Alex McGoodwin, helping bring the Bruins to a 4-3
W. tennis: Bruin women keep Bulldogs at bay
The UCLA women’s tennis team was ready to be tested after dominating its match against UC Irvine 7-0 Thursday.
Friday afternoon’s match against Fresno State gave the team exactly what it needed.
After sweeping three matches to secure the doubles point, UCLA struggled in the singles but managed to hold on for a 4-3 victory at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.
“(Fresno State) is a good, solid team,” redshirt junior Lauren Fisher said. “It was really good for us to play them so that we could see where we’re at.”
No. 8 UCLA (4-3 overall) and No. 21 Fresno State (1-1) split the singles matches, so it was the crucial doubles point that gave the Bruins the edge. The teams of Lauren Fisher and Daniela Bercek, Feriel Esseghir and Jackie Carleton, and Laura Gordon and Alex McGoodwin all came up with wins over the Bulldogs.
“Winning the doubles point was definitely one of the focuses of today’s match,” coach Stella Sampras Webster said.
After moving on to singles play, the top half of UCLA’s lineup was only able to win one of its three matches.
Despite dominating the first set, sophomore Jackie Carleton fell to Jelena Pandzic 6-1, 1-6, 2-6 at the No. 1 position. UCLA’s Daniela Bercek defeated Lucia Tallo 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 2 position, but No. 3 Feriel Esseghir was forced to retire against Katharina Winterhalter at 1-6, 1-0.
“Feriel’s foot was bothering her,” Sampras Webster said of Esseghir’s situation.
Freshman Alex McGoodwin battled at the No. 4 spot until her 6-1, 2-6, 5-7 loss to Vlatka Jovanovic.
Junior Sarah Gregg came back to win her match at the No. 5 spot against Lucia Sainz 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.
“I was very impressed with Sarah,” Sampras Webster said. “She came back after not playing well at the beginning.”
Although Fisher was set to play singles and doubles, she retired after winning her doubles match.
“My elbow hurt,” explained Fisher, who is coming back to regular play from a long-term injury.
Sophomore Laura Gordon filled in at the No. 6 spot and defeated Courtney Jantz 6-1, 6-3.
“Everyone competed really well,” Fisher said. “It was great to get another win under our belt.”
The Bruins are already looking ahead to next week. They take on No. 18 Arizona State on Friday.
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