TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State women's tennis program travels to Ojai, Calif. for the Pac-12 Tournament, which will be a team format for the first time in conference history. The Sun Devils (14-6, 7-3 Pac-12) finished the regular season in third place within the conference – their highest finish and best conference record in program history – and therefore earned a bye in the first round.
The Devils await the winner of Wednesday's match-up between No. 6 USC (11-9, 6-4) and No. 11 Washington State (10-15, 0-10). ASU will play the winner in the quarterfinal round on Thursday, April 27 at 11 a.m. PT at Ojai Valley Athletic Club.
"We're playing really well and ended the season well," said head coach Sheila McInerney. "It's just a matter of starting off the postseason on the right foot. It's a new season and we just need to continue to get better. It's the first Pac-12 team tournament and somebody's got to win it, so why not the Sun Devils."
While the Devils defeated the Cougars in Pullman on April 7, they lost a down to the wire match with the Trojans just two weeks ago, 4-3.
Senior Kassidy Jump – ranked No. 63 in singles in the recent polls – upset then-No. 23 Gabby Smith on court one for her biggest-ever collegiate victory.
The biggest factor in the ASU loss was Jump earning just one of two victories on the six courts during singles play. Freshman Savannah Slaysman defeated Madison Westby on court five, and USC came from behind to win 4-3.
Senior Alex Osborne and junior Nicole Fossa Huergo helped clinch the doubles point and give ASU the early lead thanks to a 7-5 upset of No. 71 Jessica Failla and Rianna Valdes on court one.
"I thought we played very well," said McInerney. "I think the doubles is going to be key. We got it last time and they still managed to win it with four victories in singles. You just have to get to four, whether we win the doubles point or not. We have to play really, really well in singles from top to bottom. No easy outs."
Despite the 4-1 final over WSU earlier this month, the Cougars forced three-setters on courts one and two, while also capturing their only point in a three-set battle on court three.
"We played Washington State indoors, so it was totally different, especially only starting with four matches at one time," said McInerney. "They really made us work a lot. We'll expect a tough one if WSU prevails over USC."
The match begins on Thursday at 11 a.m., and fans can follow the tournament here. Live results are also available here.
The Devils await the winner of Wednesday's match-up between No. 6 USC (11-9, 6-4) and No. 11 Washington State (10-15, 0-10). ASU will play the winner in the quarterfinal round on Thursday, April 27 at 11 a.m. PT at Ojai Valley Athletic Club.
"We're playing really well and ended the season well," said head coach Sheila McInerney. "It's just a matter of starting off the postseason on the right foot. It's a new season and we just need to continue to get better. It's the first Pac-12 team tournament and somebody's got to win it, so why not the Sun Devils."
While the Devils defeated the Cougars in Pullman on April 7, they lost a down to the wire match with the Trojans just two weeks ago, 4-3.
Senior Kassidy Jump – ranked No. 63 in singles in the recent polls – upset then-No. 23 Gabby Smith on court one for her biggest-ever collegiate victory.
The biggest factor in the ASU loss was Jump earning just one of two victories on the six courts during singles play. Freshman Savannah Slaysman defeated Madison Westby on court five, and USC came from behind to win 4-3.
Senior Alex Osborne and junior Nicole Fossa Huergo helped clinch the doubles point and give ASU the early lead thanks to a 7-5 upset of No. 71 Jessica Failla and Rianna Valdes on court one.
"I thought we played very well," said McInerney. "I think the doubles is going to be key. We got it last time and they still managed to win it with four victories in singles. You just have to get to four, whether we win the doubles point or not. We have to play really, really well in singles from top to bottom. No easy outs."
Despite the 4-1 final over WSU earlier this month, the Cougars forced three-setters on courts one and two, while also capturing their only point in a three-set battle on court three.
"We played Washington State indoors, so it was totally different, especially only starting with four matches at one time," said McInerney. "They really made us work a lot. We'll expect a tough one if WSU prevails over USC."
The match begins on Thursday at 11 a.m., and fans can follow the tournament here. Live results are also available here.