The UCLA women’s tennis team, ranked eighth nationally, secured a 4-3 win over No. 14 Pepperdine in a closely contested match at the Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center in Malibu on Friday. The deciding point came from sophomore Kate Fakih, who won her singles match against Chantal Sauvant in three sets.
Fakih overcame a first-set loss to defeat Sauvant 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Court 3. Her victory completed a comeback for the Bruins, who have now recorded three consecutive wins and improved their season record to 5-2. Fakih has now clinched seven team wins during her career.
Pepperdine started strong by taking the doubles point and then extending its lead to 2-0 after Alexia Harmon defeated Bianca Fernandez in straight sets on Court 4. However, UCLA responded with singles victories from Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer, Olivia Center, Mayu Crossley, and Fakih.
Lutkemeyer defeated Ziva Falkner (ranked No. 57) with a score of 6-3, 6-3 on Court 1. This marked Lutkemeyer’s third win this season against nationally-ranked opponents. On Court 6, Center tied the overall score with a decisive win over Shihomi Leong.
Pepperdine’s Duru Soke then beat Ahmani Guichard on Court 5 to put the Waves one point away from victory. But Crossley kept UCLA’s hopes alive by defeating Sonja Zhiyenbayeva (No. 49) in three sets on Court 2.
With all other matches completed, attention turned to Fakih’s contest on Court 3. After falling behind when Sauvant broke serve for a 4-3 lead in the final set, Fakih quickly recovered by breaking back and winning the next two games to secure the overall team victory for UCLA.
In doubles play, Lutkemeyer and Guichard won their match on Court 2 for their third consecutive doubles victory together. Pepperdine took matches on Courts 1 and 3 to claim the doubles point.
UCLA will next face No. 6 USC at home on February 27 at their GolDEN Match event.
Singles results:
1. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) def. Ziva Falkner (PEPP) – 6-3, 6-3
2. Mayu Crossley (UCLA) def. Sonja Zhiyenbayeva (PEPP) – 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
3. Kate Fakih (UCLA) def. Chantal Sauvant (PEPP) – 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Alexia Harmon (PEPP) def. Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) – 6-1, 6-1
5. Duru Soke (PEPP) def. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) – 6-2, 6-2
6. Olivia Center (UCLA) def. Shihomi Leong (PEPP) – 6-1, 6-1
Doubles results:
1. Ziva Falkner/Sonja Zhiyenbayeva (PEPP) def. Olivia Center/Kate Fakih (UCLA) – 6-1
2. Ahmani Guichard/Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) def. Alexia Harmon/Chantal Sauvant (PEPP) – 6-1
3. Shihomi Leong/Duru Soke (PEPP) def Kayla Chung/Mayu Crossley (UCLA) – 6–2
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