The No. 24 UCLA women’s tennis team secured a decisive 4-0 victory over No. 53 Penn State on March 30, at the Sarni Tennis Center in State College, Pennsylvania.
UCLA maintained a dominant presence in doubles play right away. Ahmani Guichard and Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer set the pace early, swiftly overpowering Penn State’s Maria Daciana Ciubotaru and Jelena Vico in a decisive 6-1 victory on court three. On court two, Olivia Center and Kate Fakih defeated Patricia Grigoras and Jordina Cegarra in a close, but decisive 6-4 victory, securing the Bruins’ doubles point. UCLA had significant momentum going into the singles competition after securing the doubles point.
The Bruins maintained their aggressive form during singles matches, quickly taking control on multiple courts. With a remarkable performance, Elise Wagle, ranked No. 64 in the country defeated Jelena Vico 6-0, 6-0. Wagle’s dominant victory showed her consistency and drive as a cornerstone of the team’s singles lineup this season.
Building on this energy, Guichard contributed significantly with a decisive 6-3, 6-2 victory against Cegarra, pushing UCLA closer to victory. The final highlight was when Center, a freshman, defeated Ciubotaru 6-3, 6-2 to win her first ever match deciding victory. She displayed poise beyond her years. In addition to winning the match, Center’s outstanding play solidified her position as a rising star for UCLA tennis.
With a record of 8-7 overall and 3-3 in conference play, UCLA’s place in the Big Ten Conference is greatly improved by the shutout victory. For Penn State, previously undefeated at home, the loss marked a sudden halt to their home-court dominance, dropping their overall record to 13-5 and 4-4 in the conference.
Looking ahead, UCLA returns home to Los Angeles Tennis Center with a fresh sense of confidence for crucial matchups against Wisconsin on April 5 and Minnesota on April 6. Today’s victory serves as a critical building block for UCLA’s aspirations of making a deep postseason run, showcasing their capability to deliver dominant performances in high-pressure environments.
—
Featured Image Photographed by Brianna Carlson/Daily Bruin
