TEMPE, Ariz. – For the second consecutive day in a row, the deciding point for the Arizona State women's tennis team came down to the sixth and final singles match. This time, the tide favored the Devils, as they upset No. 22 UCLA, 4-3, to close out a crucial weekend of Pac-12 play at the Whiteman Tennis Center.
The Devils' (13-6, 6-3) handed the Bruins (13-6, 7-2) just their second conference loss of the season and is the first time ever the Devils have defeated UCLA in back-to-back meetings. However, UCLA didn't go down easy, as they secured the first point of the day with wins on courts one and three in doubles for the early 1-0 lead.
"I give our kids a lot of credit, particularly after losing the doubles point, and then three of our girls who lost yesterday, won today," said head coach Sheila McInerney. "Kelley lost yesterday, Nicole lost and so did Gussie, so every day is a new day, every match."
On court one, No. 73 Alex Osborne and Nicole Fossa-Huergo fell to No. 24 Jada Hart and Terri Fleming, 6-1. Minutes later, a 6-4 win from ASU's Kelley Anderson and Savannah Slaysman on court two kept the Devils in the hunt.
Court three proved to be the deciding factor, but Kassidy Jump and Sammi Hampton fell to Ena Shibahara and Kristin Wiley, 6-4, giving UCLA the first point of the day.
But No. 102 Anderson brought the match back to a tie to start singles play, as she secured her win against No. 107 Hart, 6-1, 6-4, on court three.
While a quick turnaround gave ASU the lead thanks to Slaysman's victory on court five, the Bruins retaliated with back-to-back wins on courts one and two.
Jump – ranked No. 75 and coming off a big upset of No. 23 Gabby Smith on Friday -- held her own against No. 3 Ena Shibahara on court one, ultimately falling short, 6-4, 6-3.
"[Jump] played really well in the doubles and Ena (Shibahara) is a really good player. I like fact that Kass probably isn't 100% but battled for the team," said McInerney. "She was out there for a long time and that helps. When she's out there having a chance to win, it takes the pressure off everybody else."
UCLA's Fleming claimed court two over No. 109 Hampton, 6-4, 6-4, for the last Bruin lead of the match and their last point as well.
Fossa-Huergo retained her moment of redemption from Friday's loss, beating Miller, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 to knot the match back up at three-all.
With the match tied back up, court six with ASU's Gussie 'The Grinder' O'Sullivan and UCLA's Kristin Wiley held the key to victory.
"With Gussie, we call her the Grinder for a reason," said McInerney. "She is just tough out there and she's going to make somebody give everything they have to beat her."
'The Grinder' went to work with all other matches complete. Both teams and their fans gathered to witness O'Sullivan's monumental and thrilling win, 6-4, 7-5, against Wiley.
Up next, the Devils will play their final regular season match against the team down south for Senior Day on Saturday, April 22 at 1 p.m. PT.
#29 Arizona State – 4, #22 UCLA – 3
Whiteman Tennis Center
April 15, 2017
Doubles
1. #24 Hart/Fleming (UCLA) def. #73 Osborne/Fossa Huergo (ASU)- 6-1
2. Anderson/Slaysman (ASU) def. Andrews/Miller (UCLA) - 6-4
3. Shibahara/Wiley (UCLA) def. Jump/Hampton (ASU) - 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles:
1. #3 Ena Shibahara (UCLA) def. #75 Kassidy Jump (ASU) - 6-4, 6-3
2. Terri Fleming (UCLA) def. #109 Sammi Hampton (ASU) - 6-4, 6-4
3. #102 Kelley Anderson (ASU) def. #107 Jada Hart (UCLA) - 6-1, 6-4
4. Nicole Fossa Huergo (ASU) def. Alaina Miller (UCLA) - 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
5. Savannah Slaysman (ASU) def. Gabby Andrews (UCLA) - 6-3, 6-4
6. Gussie O'Sullivan (ASU) def. Kristin Wiley (UCLA) - 6-4, 7-5
Order of finish: 3, 5, 1, 2, 4, 6
The Devils' (13-6, 6-3) handed the Bruins (13-6, 7-2) just their second conference loss of the season and is the first time ever the Devils have defeated UCLA in back-to-back meetings. However, UCLA didn't go down easy, as they secured the first point of the day with wins on courts one and three in doubles for the early 1-0 lead.
"I give our kids a lot of credit, particularly after losing the doubles point, and then three of our girls who lost yesterday, won today," said head coach Sheila McInerney. "Kelley lost yesterday, Nicole lost and so did Gussie, so every day is a new day, every match."
On court one, No. 73 Alex Osborne and Nicole Fossa-Huergo fell to No. 24 Jada Hart and Terri Fleming, 6-1. Minutes later, a 6-4 win from ASU's Kelley Anderson and Savannah Slaysman on court two kept the Devils in the hunt.
Court three proved to be the deciding factor, but Kassidy Jump and Sammi Hampton fell to Ena Shibahara and Kristin Wiley, 6-4, giving UCLA the first point of the day.
But No. 102 Anderson brought the match back to a tie to start singles play, as she secured her win against No. 107 Hart, 6-1, 6-4, on court three.
While a quick turnaround gave ASU the lead thanks to Slaysman's victory on court five, the Bruins retaliated with back-to-back wins on courts one and two.
Jump – ranked No. 75 and coming off a big upset of No. 23 Gabby Smith on Friday -- held her own against No. 3 Ena Shibahara on court one, ultimately falling short, 6-4, 6-3.
"[Jump] played really well in the doubles and Ena (Shibahara) is a really good player. I like fact that Kass probably isn't 100% but battled for the team," said McInerney. "She was out there for a long time and that helps. When she's out there having a chance to win, it takes the pressure off everybody else."
UCLA's Fleming claimed court two over No. 109 Hampton, 6-4, 6-4, for the last Bruin lead of the match and their last point as well.
Fossa-Huergo retained her moment of redemption from Friday's loss, beating Miller, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1 to knot the match back up at three-all.
With the match tied back up, court six with ASU's Gussie 'The Grinder' O'Sullivan and UCLA's Kristin Wiley held the key to victory.
"With Gussie, we call her the Grinder for a reason," said McInerney. "She is just tough out there and she's going to make somebody give everything they have to beat her."
'The Grinder' went to work with all other matches complete. Both teams and their fans gathered to witness O'Sullivan's monumental and thrilling win, 6-4, 7-5, against Wiley.
Up next, the Devils will play their final regular season match against the team down south for Senior Day on Saturday, April 22 at 1 p.m. PT.
#29 Arizona State – 4, #22 UCLA – 3
Whiteman Tennis Center
April 15, 2017
Doubles
1. #24 Hart/Fleming (UCLA) def. #73 Osborne/Fossa Huergo (ASU)- 6-1
2. Anderson/Slaysman (ASU) def. Andrews/Miller (UCLA) - 6-4
3. Shibahara/Wiley (UCLA) def. Jump/Hampton (ASU) - 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 2, 3
Singles:
1. #3 Ena Shibahara (UCLA) def. #75 Kassidy Jump (ASU) - 6-4, 6-3
2. Terri Fleming (UCLA) def. #109 Sammi Hampton (ASU) - 6-4, 6-4
3. #102 Kelley Anderson (ASU) def. #107 Jada Hart (UCLA) - 6-1, 6-4
4. Nicole Fossa Huergo (ASU) def. Alaina Miller (UCLA) - 7-6 (7-4), 6-1
5. Savannah Slaysman (ASU) def. Gabby Andrews (UCLA) - 6-3, 6-4
6. Gussie O'Sullivan (ASU) def. Kristin Wiley (UCLA) - 6-4, 7-5
Order of finish: 3, 5, 1, 2, 4, 6