NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship : Stanford Sweeps Singles to Put Away UCLA, 5-0
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Kylie Johnson scored a key singles win to lead Stanford to a 5-0 victory over UCLA Sunday for the Cardinal’s fourth consecutive National Collegiate Athletic Assn. women’s tennis championship.
The championship for Stanford, which finished 29-0 in dual matches, was also its sixth in the last eight years. For the 25th time this season, the Cardinal did not need doubles play to decide a match.
“I’d have to think this is our best team,†Stanford Coach Frank Brennan said. “It dominated like no other team I’ve had. The performance today was just excellent. I just had to open up the balls and stay out of the way.â€
Stanford, which won 25 of its 26 singles matches during the tournament, took five singles matches in straight sets to beat UCLA, which finished 21-5. Stanford’s Tami Whitlinger split sets with Jessica Emmons at No. 1 singles, but the match was halted before a third set because the team title had been decided.
Brennan said the key to Sunday’s domination might have been the play of Johnson at No. 6 singles. The freshman defeated Kirsten Dreyer, 6-2, 6-2, in the first match.
“It might have been significant when the UCLA players saw Dreyer lose,†Brennan said. “Soon after that, it all came apart.â€
Next, Stanford’s Debbie Graham, who finished 27-0 at No. 4 singles, downed Stella Sampras, 6-3, 6-3. Sandra Birch stopped Alysia May, 6-4, 6-2, at No. 2. Lisa Green defeated Mamie Ceniza, 6-2, 6-4, at No. 3. Teri Whitlinger beat Iwalani McCalla, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 5.
“I don’t think we just breezed through this,†Green said. “We had a lot of tough matches. Everyone just happened to peak at nationals. . . . Everyone expected us to win and we were able to do it.â€
UCLA Coach Bill Zaima, whose team defeated No. 2 Florida in Saturday’s semifinals, said his Bruins didn’t play as well against Stanford.
“I think we were a little flat today,†he said. “We weren’t nervous. But Stanford was more ready to win the big points. They held up under the pressure. They are a dynasty.â€
The NCAA individual women’s tournament begins today and concludes Thursday with the singles and doubles finals. Stanford’s Tami Whitlinger is seeded No. 1.
The Cardinal has five in the 64-player singles draw and two entrants in the 32-team doubles draw.
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