The UCLA women’s tennis team, ranked 18th nationally, was defeated by No. 5 LSU in the ITA Kickoff Weekend championship match held Sunday at the LSU Tennis Complex in Baton Rouge. The final score was 4-1 in favor of LSU, which secured a spot in next month’s ITA National Team Indoor Championship tournament with the victory.
UCLA (2-1) had advanced to the championship after defeating No. 24 UCF 4-1 on Saturday. In Sunday’s doubles competition, UCLA managed to claim the point following a close contest. After losing on Court 2, Olivia Center and Kate Fakih responded with a win on Court 1 for their third consecutive victory as a pair. The deciding doubles match took place on Court 3, where freshmen Kayla Chung and Mayu Crossley clinched the point for UCLA after prevailing in a tiebreaker.
Despite gaining an early lead through doubles play, UCLA could not maintain momentum during singles matches. Addison Lanton of LSU tied the overall score by defeating Center 6-4, 6-0 on Court 6. Ella McDonald then put LSU ahead with a straight-set win over Fakih on Court 3. Kayla Cross extended LSU’s advantage by overcoming Crossley on Court 2.
On Court 5, Bianca Fernandez of UCLA was three points away from winning her second match of the weekend when play was halted. Carolina Kuhl delivered the decisive result for LSU by holding off Ahmani Guichard in straight sets—6-2, 7-6(0)—on Court 4.
With this loss, UCLA’s record stands at two wins and one loss for the season while LSU remains undefeated at four wins and no losses.
Looking ahead, UCLA will travel to northern California for non-conference matches against No. 15 California and No. 9 Stanford later this week. The Bruins are scheduled to face California at Hellman Tennis Complex on Friday, January 30 at 1:30 p.m., followed by a matchup against Stanford at Arrillaga Tennis Center – Taube Pavilion on Saturday, January 31 at 3 p.m.
### Singles Results
1. Cadence Brace (LSU) vs. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) – unfinished
2. Kayla Cross (LSU) def. Mayu Crossley (UCLA) – 6-4, 6-3
3. Ella McDonald (LSU) def. #75 Kate Fakih (UCLA) – 6-2, 6-3
4. Carolina Kuhl (LSU) def. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) – 6-2, 7-6(0)
5. Florentine Dekkers (LSU) vs Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) – unfinished
6. #78 Addison Lanton (LSU) def Olivia Center (UCLA) – 6-4, 6-0
### Doubles Results
1. Olivia Center/Kate Fakih (UCLA) def Cadence Brace/Kayla Cross (LSU), 6-4
2. Kenna Erickson/Ella McDonald (LSU) def Ahmani Guichard/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA), 6-2
3. Kayla Chung/Mayu Crossley (UCLA) def Carolina Kuhl/Addison Lanton (LSU), 7–6(8–6)
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