TEMPE - No. 34 ASU (10-6, 3-3 Pac-12) played to a close loss against No. 10 UCLA (12-3, 6-0 Pac-12) Friday afternoon at the Whiteman Tennis Center. The Sun Devils lost 4-3 to the Bruins, but celebrated a trio of hard-fought victories in singles play. The loss was ASU's first at home this season.
"Obviously you never like to lose but I thought we competed really well," head coach Sheila McInerney said. "Our kids gave it all they could, no question about it. Sammi and Cali both won the first game, lost the second, then lost a tough three-setter, Lauryn played well, Marianna played really well and obviously Domi won, so like I said you hate to lose but I'm proud of the way we competed. We just have to rest up for tomorrow because USC is going to be tough. So a short turnaround, but we have to be ready for it."
Doubles play showed that ASU isn't scared to box above its weight class. Tereza Kolarova/Domenika Turkovic were the first off the courts with a 6-2 win at No. 3, a lead they gained early on and never got close to relinquishing. Ilze Hattingh/Lauryn John-Baptiste went down 2-5 early and never recovered, ultimately losing 6-3. The point came down to No. 2 where Sammi Hampton/Marianna Argyrokastriti played to a 3-4, but Annette Goulak/Vivan Wolff kept the pressure on and won 6-4.
The Sun Devils used a few late rallies to force UCLA into a corner in singles. Play opened with almost every court looking like it'd certainly go UCLA's way. The Bruins earned their second point of the day at No. 1 with Abbey Forves topped Hattingh in a pair, but Turkovic followed with a straight-set victory at No. 5 that featured her and Abi Altick going point-for-point for the better part of the match.
John-Baptiste and Argryokastriti then rallied at courts three and four to put ASU ahead 3-2 and one away from the upset. Goulak then won in three sets over Cali Jankowski at No. 6 to bring the deciding point to No. 2 Hampton and Jada Hart. Hampton opened with a win before losing the second set, and appeared ready to edge out Hart in the third before a late final gave the Bruin the win.
Up Next
ASU returns to the Whiteman Tennis Center Saturday at noon to host No. 39 USC at noon. Fans are permitted but masks and physical distancing are required.
4/2/2021 at Tempe, AZ
(Whiteman Tennis Center)
#10 UCLA 4, #34 Arizona State 3
Singles competition
1. Abbey Forbes (UCLA) def. Hattingh,Ilze (ASU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Jada Hart (UCLA) def. Hampton,Sammi (ASU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
3. John-Baptiste,Lauryn (ASU) def. Sasha Vagramov (UCLA) 6-4, 6-4
4. Argyrokastriti,M (ASU) def. Vivian Wolff (UCLA) 6-4, 7-5
5. Turkovic,Domenika (ASU) def. Abi Altick (UCLA) 6-3, 6-2
6. Annette Goulak (UCLA) def. Jankowski,Cali (ASU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Abbey Forbes/Jada Hart (UCLA) def. Hattingh,Ilze/John-Baptiste,Lauryn (ASU) 6-3
2. Annette Goulak/Vivian Wolff (UCLA) def. Hampton,Sammi/Argyrokastriti,M (ASU) 6-4
3. Kolarova,Tereza/Turkovic,Domenika (ASU) def. Elysia Bolton/Sasha Vagramov (UCLA) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,5,3,4,6,2)
"Obviously you never like to lose but I thought we competed really well," head coach Sheila McInerney said. "Our kids gave it all they could, no question about it. Sammi and Cali both won the first game, lost the second, then lost a tough three-setter, Lauryn played well, Marianna played really well and obviously Domi won, so like I said you hate to lose but I'm proud of the way we competed. We just have to rest up for tomorrow because USC is going to be tough. So a short turnaround, but we have to be ready for it."
Doubles play showed that ASU isn't scared to box above its weight class. Tereza Kolarova/Domenika Turkovic were the first off the courts with a 6-2 win at No. 3, a lead they gained early on and never got close to relinquishing. Ilze Hattingh/Lauryn John-Baptiste went down 2-5 early and never recovered, ultimately losing 6-3. The point came down to No. 2 where Sammi Hampton/Marianna Argyrokastriti played to a 3-4, but Annette Goulak/Vivan Wolff kept the pressure on and won 6-4.
The Sun Devils used a few late rallies to force UCLA into a corner in singles. Play opened with almost every court looking like it'd certainly go UCLA's way. The Bruins earned their second point of the day at No. 1 with Abbey Forves topped Hattingh in a pair, but Turkovic followed with a straight-set victory at No. 5 that featured her and Abi Altick going point-for-point for the better part of the match.
John-Baptiste and Argryokastriti then rallied at courts three and four to put ASU ahead 3-2 and one away from the upset. Goulak then won in three sets over Cali Jankowski at No. 6 to bring the deciding point to No. 2 Hampton and Jada Hart. Hampton opened with a win before losing the second set, and appeared ready to edge out Hart in the third before a late final gave the Bruin the win.
Up Next
ASU returns to the Whiteman Tennis Center Saturday at noon to host No. 39 USC at noon. Fans are permitted but masks and physical distancing are required.
4/2/2021 at Tempe, AZ
(Whiteman Tennis Center)
#10 UCLA 4, #34 Arizona State 3
Singles competition
1. Abbey Forbes (UCLA) def. Hattingh,Ilze (ASU) 6-3, 6-2
2. Jada Hart (UCLA) def. Hampton,Sammi (ASU) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
3. John-Baptiste,Lauryn (ASU) def. Sasha Vagramov (UCLA) 6-4, 6-4
4. Argyrokastriti,M (ASU) def. Vivian Wolff (UCLA) 6-4, 7-5
5. Turkovic,Domenika (ASU) def. Abi Altick (UCLA) 6-3, 6-2
6. Annette Goulak (UCLA) def. Jankowski,Cali (ASU) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
Doubles competition
1. Abbey Forbes/Jada Hart (UCLA) def. Hattingh,Ilze/John-Baptiste,Lauryn (ASU) 6-3
2. Annette Goulak/Vivian Wolff (UCLA) def. Hampton,Sammi/Argyrokastriti,M (ASU) 6-4
3. Kolarova,Tereza/Turkovic,Domenika (ASU) def. Elysia Bolton/Sasha Vagramov (UCLA) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,5,3,4,6,2)