LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The second-ranked UCLA Bruins swept the first three singles matches off the court en route to a 4-0 victory over No. 53 Washington State Friday afternoon at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. With the loss the Cougars fall to 15-6 overall (1-4 Pac-12 play) while the Bruins improve to 16-1 (4-0).
The afternoon began with doubles where UCLA clinched the opening point by winning at both two and three doubles. At No. 2 the nation's fifth-ranked team of Catherine Harrison and Kyle McPhillips defeated Maria Biryukova and Olga Musilovich, 8-3. At No. 3 Courtney Dolehide and Chanelle Van Nguyen closed out doubles with an 8-4 win over Charlotte Koning and Dajana Ognjenovic. At No. 1, the WSU duo of Elizaveta Luzina and Lize Leenknecht led 7-4 but could not close out the match against the nation's top-ranked team of Robin Anderson and Jennifer Brandy. The match was stopped at 7-7 once the doubles point was decided.
The match was televised by the Pac-12 Networks and live coverage began with singles play. There the Bruins extended the lead to 2-0 as Van Nguyen, ranked No. 11 nationally, defeated Leenknecht 6-1, 6-0 at No. 2. Kaitlin Ray then defeated Koning 6-0, 6-0 at No. 6 before No. 16 Brady clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Biryukova at No. 3.
The remaining three matches were stopped with the team outcome decided. The nation's fourth-ranked player, Anderson, was in a battle with No. 106 Luzina as the Cougar junior lost the first set 6-1 but was up 5-0 in the second. At No. 4, Harrison, ranked No. 55, was up 6-3, 3-3 against Musilovich while No. 40 McPhillips was leading Ognjenovic 6-0, 5-3 at No. 5.
The Cougars are next in action Saturday when they face No.12 USC. Match time is set for noon.
WASHINGTON STATE TENNIS
No. 2 UCLA 4 def. No. 53 Washington State 0
March 28, 2014
Los Angeles Tennis Center
Los Angeles, Calif.
DOUBLES
1. Elizaveta Luzina/Lize Leenknecht (WSU) vs. No. 1 Robin Anderson/Jennifer Brady (UCLA) 7-7 DNF
2. No. 5 Catherine Harrison/Kyle McPhillips (UCLA) def. Olga Musilovich/Maria Biryukova (WSU) 8-3
3. Courtney Dolehide/Chanelle Van Nguyen (UCLA) def. Charlotte Koning/Dajana Ognjenovic (WSU) 8-4
Order of Finish: 2,3
SINGLES
1. No. 4 Robin Anderson (UCLA) def. No. 106 Elizaveta Luzina (WSU) 6-1, 0-5 DNF
2. No. 11 Chanelle Van Nguyen (UCLA) def. Lize Leenknecht (WSU) 6-1, 6-0
3. No. 16 Jennifer Brady (UCLA) def. Maria Biryukova (WSU) 6-2, 6-2
4. Olga Musilovich (WSU) vs. No. 55 Catherine Harrison (UCLA) 3-6, 3-3 DNF
5. Dajana Ognjenovic (WSU) vs. No. 40 Kyle McPhillips (UCLA) 0-6, 3-5 DNF
6. Kaitlin Ray (UCLA) def. Charlotte Koning (WSU) 6-0, 6-0
Order of Finish: 2,6,3
