Huskies Late Rally Falls Short In 4-3 Loss To UCLA

Friday, April 26

Ojai, CA

3:00 PM

University of Washington

UCLA

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

April 26, 2019 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

OJAI, Calif. --- Washington put together an impressive rally to come from behind in what looked like it may be a quick loss, but the comeback attempt fell just short as the No. 11-ranked Huskies lost 4-3 to No. 9 UCLA on Friday evening in the semifinals of the 2019 Pac-12 Women's Tennis Championship at the Well Tennis Academy in Ojai, Calif.

The Huskies, who reached the Pac-12 tournament semifinals for the first time in program history, drop to 19-4 on the season. All four of UW's losses this season have come to teams in the ITA Top 10, including a pair of losses to UCLA.

The Bruins held a commanding 3-1 lead in the match and were up big on courts one and two looking to clinch the match. But the Huskies would stage impressive comebacks to win on both courts. However, UCLA would pull out a comeback win of its own on court three to take the match and advance to the finals.

On court two, Vanessa Wong dropped the first set 7-5, and trailed 5-1 in the second set all with UCLA needing just one more victory to take the match. But Wong rallied against the No. 29-ranked Elysia Bolton to tie the set at 5-5, eventually winning the tiebreaker 9-7 to even up the match. After exchanging games to open the third set, Wong won four-straight to take the match 6-2.

Over on court one, Stacey Fung found herself in a similar position, losing the first set 6-1 and trailing 4-1 midway through the second. But she also rallied, tying the match at 6-6 and winning the tiebreaker 7-5 to force a third set. She would cruise to an easy 6-1 victory to take down No. 42 Jada Hart. Fung's match was the fourth to finish with Wong tying up the match at 3-3 just moments later.

But UCLA would take the match on court three. Kat Kopcalic rolled to a 6-3 win in the first set and rallied from a 5-3 deficit to force a tiebreaker in the second. However, she was unable to win the tiebreaker and lost 6-1 in the third set.

Washington lost the doubles point as UCLA took the matches on court two and three by scores of 6-1 and 6-2 respectively. On court one, the Huskies' tandem of Stacey Fung and Nika Zupancic was looking to pull of its second upset in as many days. After beating the ITA's top ranked doubles team from Arizona State, the Husky duo battled the No. 4 team in Gabby Andrews and Ayan Broomfield. Fung and Zupancic had the early 3-2 lead with each team holding serve when the doubles point was clinched.

The Bruins would make quick work winning two matches in singles play to go up 3-0. UCLA won at No. 5 singles as freshman Sedona Gallagher suffered her first-ever loss to a Pac-12 opponent in a dual match, losing 6-4, 6-1 to No. 118-ranked Abi Altick. She defeated Altick at No. 4 singles when the Bruins played in Seattle last week, her first victory over a ranked player in collegiate play.

Nika Zupancic dropped her match at No. 6 singles 6-4, 6-3, keeping the match against Gabby Andrews close until Andrews pulled away late. It was also her first dual loss to a Pac-12 opponent this season.

Natsuho Arawaka picked up UW's first victory of the day, holding on for a thrilling 7-5, 6-4 victory at No. 4 singles. Arakawa led 5-2 in the first before seeing Alaina Miller tie it at 5-5. But she would win the final two games to take the set. In the second, Arakawa broke a 4-4 tie by winning the final two games to take the match.

Washington now awaits word on its seeding in the NCAA Tournament field, which is set to be announced on Monday, April 29 at 3:30 pm. The Huskies have a good chance of hosting the opening two rounds with their No. 11 ranking when the tournament begins Friday, May 3 at campus sites.