Women’s Tennis Visits Crosstown Rival USC Monday

The UCLA women’s tennis team (3-2) opens the next chapter of its crosstown rivalry with USC (6-2) Monday, when it visits David X. Marks Tennis Stadium for a non-conference tilt at 10 a.m. PT. Previously scheduled for Friday, the contest was postponed due to rain in the forecast. The programs split two 2022 meetings.

FOLLOW LIVE

Fans unable to attend the match at USC’s David X. Marks Tennis Stadium can still follow live. Live streaming and up-to-the-minute results will be available HERE.

LAST TIME OUT

Playing at Los Angeles Tennis Center for the first time since its dual-match opener, UCLA rolled to a 7-0 victory against CSUN. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer turned in the first clinching win of her career, while Ava Catanzarite, Kimmi Hance, Vanessa Ong, Sasha Vagramov and Elise Wagle each prevailed twice for the Bruins. The Matadors sent one match to a third set, but Vagramov triumphed in a 10-point tiebreaker.

UCLA VS. USC

UCLA women’s tennis is 58-52 in the history of its rivalry with USC. In the most recent meeting (April 15, 2022), the No. 15 Bruins mounted a furious comeback against the No. 19 Trojans, but were ultimately outlasted by a 4-3 score at David X. Marks Tennis Stadium. The loss marked the first in conference play for UCLA since April 12, 2019 at Washington State. USC raced out to a 3-0 lead, only to have the Bruins bounce back to pull even. Salma Ewing clinched the victory on the top court. Elysia Bolton, Kimmi Hance and Vanessa Ong were each triumphant on the singles courts for UCLA. Trailing by a 2-6, 1-5 margin, Bolton recovered to win in three sets. Each of the three doubles matches was closely contested, with a tiebreaker needed on two courts.

IN THE RANKINGS

The latest ITA National Singles and Doubles Rankings came out Tuesday and feature four Bruins. Leading the way on the singles list is Fangran Tian, at a career-high No. 57. Ava Catanzarite is listed at No. 64, while Kimmi Hance checked in at No. 84. The tandem of Hance and Elise Wagle rose to No. 6 for doubles – a career high for both – thanks in part to its ITA Southwest Regional Championships title run. The pair beat current No. 1 Savannah Broadus/Janice Tjen of Pepperdine in the final. UCLA was slotted at No. 59 in the first ITA computerized team rankings, also released Tuesday. The initial five versions of the team rankings…