The UCLA women’s tennis team, ranked 17th nationally, opened its dual season with a 5-2 win over San Diego State at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on Sunday. The Bruins secured the first five points of the match before the Aztecs responded with two victories in singles play decided by third-set tiebreakers.
Freshman Mayu Crossley made her debut for UCLA, partnering with Kayla Chung to help clinch the doubles point and later winning her singles match. Olivia Center and Kate Fakih also recorded wins in both singles and doubles. For San Diego State, Gloria Alogo and Teja Tirunelveli earned singles victories.
In doubles action, Jayna Clemens and Ninon Martinache of SDSU defeated Ahmani Guichard and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer 6-3 on Court 2. UCLA answered as Center and Fakih beat the 23rd-ranked pair of Jo-Yee Chan and Vessa Turley 6-4 on Court 1. The deciding doubles point came when Chung and Crossley broke serve to win 6-4 on Court 3.
Fakih led off singles play with a straight-set victory over Clemens, followed by Crossley’s win against Martinache. “Center collected the final five games to defeat Vesa Gjinaj 6-1, 6-4.” Lutkemeyer added another point for UCLA after coming back from a set down to defeat No. 88 Chan.
San Diego State’s points came from Alogo’s narrow win over Guichard (6-4, 4-6, 1-0(7)) and Tirunelveli’s three-set victory against Chung (6-7(4), 6-4, 1-0(4)).
With this result, UCLA starts its season at 1-0 while San Diego State falls to 1-1. The Bruins will travel next for ITA Kickoff Weekend in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Their upcoming match is scheduled against UCF on Saturday, Jan. 24 at LSU Tennis Complex.
Singles results:
1. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) def. #88 Jo-Yee Chan (SDSU) – 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
2. Mayu Crossley (UCLA) def. Ninon Martinache (SDSU) – 6-3, 6-2
3. #75 Kate Fakih (UCLA) def. Jayna Clemens (SDSU) – 6-2, 6-1
4. Gloria Alogo (SDSU) def. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) – 6-4, 4-6, 1–0(10–7)
5. Olivia Center (UCLA) def. Vesa Gjinaj (SDSU) – 6–1, 6–4
6. Teja Tirunelveli (SDSU) def Kayla Chung (UCLA) – 6–7(4), 6–4, 1–0(10–4)
Doubles results:
1.Olivia Center/Kate Fakih(UCLA)def.#23 Jo-Yee Chan/Vessa Turley(SDSU)— 6–4
2.Jayna Clemens/Ninon Martinache(SDSU)def.Ahmani Guichard/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer(UCLA)— 6–3
3.Kayla Chung/Mayu Crossley(UCLA)def.Gloria Alogo/Liisa Varul(SDSU)— 6–4
San Diego State now holds a record of one win and one loss; UCLA begins their campaign with one win.
