TEMPE, Ariz. – Two afternoons, two top-20 league rivals and two massive wins for the Sun Devils.
Not even 24 hours removed from a 4-3 takedown of No. 12 Cal, the Sun Devils followed it up with a 4-2 triumph over No. 17 Stanford at the Whiteman Tennis Center.
On Saturday, Sheila McInerney's Sun Devils struck once more, courtesy of Giulia Morlet's clincher on Court 1 over No. 13 Connie Ma.
The Sun Devils (11-6, 3-4) have defeated Cal and Stanford in the same season for the first time in program history.
DOWN GOES NO. 17 STANFORD ??
— Arizona State Women's Tennis (@sundevilwtennis) April 2, 2022
Giulia clinches it on Court 1 over No. 13 Connie Ma (7-5, 6-4) ?? pic.twitter.com/Lt8G8mQ7wg
COACH'S CORNER
"It's the third win over Stanford in the 38 years that I've been here," McInerney said, just moments after she was doused in water by her players. "Needless to say, [Cal and Stanford] are both really, really strong and really, really deep. Just really happy for the girls. We lost a couple close ones early, weren't necessarily at full-strength and now we're healthy again. It was a great weekend.
"Any time you can win at home in the Pac-12 is great, but if you can beat Stanford and Cal in the same weekend, it's more than icing on the cake. Really happy and proud of the girls. We take nothing for granted, but I think they'll enjoy this one today, for sure."
The Sun Devils cemented themselves as a force to be reckoned with at the Whiteman Tennis Center, now winners of 10 of 11 at home this spring. It's the first time since 2018-19 that the Sun Devils have won 10-plus matches at home in a season.
The Sun Devils swarmed the Cardinal from the minute the match began. Giulia Morlet/Sedona Gallagher cruised to a 6-1 win on Court 2 over Valencia Xu/Alexandra Yepifanova. To their right, Cali Jankowski/Marianna Argyrokastriti slid past Sara Choy/Niluka Madurawe on Court 3, 6-2.
No. 26 Patricija Spaka/Domenika Turkovic were locked in a battle with No. 7 Angelica Blake/Connie Ma, leading 4-3 before play was suspended due to the Sun Devils' clinching the doubles point.
Cali Jankowski earned her team-best 13th win of the season, cruising past India Houghton, 6-2, 6-3. After the Cardinal tied it at 2-2, Sedona Gallagher rallied on Court 3 to pull out the victory over Angelica Blake, 7-5, 6-4.
Big time W from Cali ?? pic.twitter.com/dq6snFv10c
— Arizona State Women's Tennis (@sundevilwtennis) April 2, 2022
Then it was Morlet moments later, who dug deep to stun No. 13 Connie Ma, 7-5, 6-4 and seal another massive win for the Sun Devils. Morlet aced her two tests this weekend against a pair of top-ranked singles players in Ma and Cal's Haley Giavara (No. 101).
"I'm really happy for her," McInerney said of the Sun Devils' No. 1 singles player. "I think this will really help her. She had two really good wins over the weekend, those kids were both good. Happy for her, happy for the team, this was great."
SINGLES
1. Morlet,Giulia (ASU) def. Connie Ma (STANFORD) 7-5, 6-4
2. Alexandra Yepifanova (STANFORD) def. Turkovic,Domenika (ASU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Sedona Gallagher (ASU) def. Angelica Blake (STANFORD) 7-5, 6-4
4. Jankowski,Cali (ASU) def. India Houghton (STANFORD) 6-2, 6-3
5. Patricija Spaka (ASU) vs. Valencia Xu (STANFORD) 4-6, 6-2, 1-1, unfinished
6. Sara Choy (STANFORD) def. Argyrokastriti,M (ASU) 6-3, 6-1
DOUBLES
1. Patricija Spaka/Turkovic,Domenika (ASU) vs. Angelica Blake/Connie Ma (STANFORD) 4-3, unfinished
2. Morlet,Giulia/Sedona Gallagher (ASU) def. Valencia Xu/Alexandra Yepifanova (STANFORD) 6-1
3. Argyrokastriti,M/Jankowski,Cali (ASU) def. Sara Choy/Niluka Madurawe (STANFORD) 6-2
UP NEXT
With just three matches remaining, the Sun Devils will take this show on the road next week at Colorado (Friday, April 8, 12 p.m. MST) and Utah (Sunday, April 10, 12:30 p.m. MST).
They'll put a bow on the 2021-22 regular season when they host in-state rival Arizona the following week (Saturday, April 16, 12 p.m.)