TEMPE – No. 16 Sun Devil Women’s Tennis fell to No. 18 UCLA, 4-3, in the second round of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Tournament at Whiteman Tennis Center Saturday afternoon.
The Sun Devils (20-6) finish off a historic season with 20 wins, the most in a season since 2001. The team also won 11 matches in the Big 12, which was the most conference wins in team history. In addition to this milestone, ASU finished as the Co-Big 12 Regular Season Champions, winning the program's first conference title.
Despite the comeback efforts of graduate Vivian Ovrootsky and junior Lily Taylor, UCLA (18-7) took an early 1-0 lead, winning the doubles point on courts one and two. Ovrootsky was able to tie the match for the Sun Devils in a 6-2, 6-0 victory on court three to kick off singles play. This marks her 31st win of the season, tying her for third for the most singles wins in a season with Allison Bradshaw (1999) and Kori Davidson (1994).
ASU took a brief 2-1 lead over the Bruins, with junior Emilija Tverijonaite winning her match on court one, 6-2, 6-1. She moved into a tie for second for the most singles wins in a season with Adria Engel (2001) at 32 wins. UCLA countered with two wins of their own on courts two and five, taking back the lead 3-2.
Junior Lily Taylor fought to keep the Sun Devils tournament run alive, winning her first set in a dramatic 7-6(7) tiebreak. Her second set win, 6-3, squared up the match at 3-3 for ASU. Freshman Zlata Bartanusz took her match to the only third set of the day, but UCLA held on to take the match, 4-3.
Ovrootsky and Tverijonaite had landmark seasons for the Sun Devils, combining for a singles record of 38-7 in the spring. Tverijonaite topped off her season by becoming the Big 12 Player of the Year, being the first player in program history to do so in any conference.
Ovrootsky closed her collegiate career as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, courtesy of her undefeated regular season in singles. The duo both made All-Big 12 Singles First Team, as well as Ovrootsky making the All-Big 12 Doubles Second Team with her partner Lily Taylor.
Eight players (Altori, Bartanusz, Nupbay, Svetac, Evans, Tverijonaite, Lim and Taylor) are expected to return next season, where they look to pick up where they left off.
Fans can keep up with all the action and news of Sun Devil Women’s Tennis in the offseason by following @sundevilwtennis on Instagram and X, Sun Devil Women’s Tennis on Facebook, and on sundevils.com.
Weekend schedule: All matches at Whiteman Tennis Center
Friday, May 1 - First Round
No. 18 UCLA vs. San Diego State - UCLA, 4-3
Denver at Arizona State - ASU, 4-0
Saturday, May 2 - Second Round
No. 18 UCLA at No. 16 Arizona State - UCLA, 4-3
No. 16 Arizona State 3, No. 18 UCLA 4
Doubles results
1. Center/Fakih (UCLA) def. Ovrootsky/Taylor (ASU) - 6-4
2. Crossley/Lutkemeyer (UCLA) def. Tverijonaite/Nupbay (ASU) - 6-0
3. Bartanusz/Svetac (ASU) vs. Chung/Guichard (UCLA) - 5-4, unfinished
Order of finish: 2, 1
Singles results
1. Emilija Tverijonaite (ASU) def. A. Lutkemeyer (UCLA) - 6-2, 6-1
2. Mayu Crossley (UCLA) def. Sara Svetac (ASU) - 6-2, 6-1
3. Vivian Ovrootsky (ASU) def. Kate Fakih (UCLA) - 6-2, 6-0
4. Lily Taylor (ASU) def. Bianca Fernandez (UCLA) - 7-6 (7), 6-3
5. Olivia Center (UCLA) def. Aiya Nupbay (ASU) - 6-4, 6-3
6. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) def. Zlata Bartanusz (ASU) - 7-5, 3-6, 6-4
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2, 5, 4, 6
Women’s Tennis Most Singles Wins in Season (1985-Present)
- Kelcy McKenna - 33 (2008, 2009)
- Emilija Tverijonaite - 32 (2025-26)
Adria Engel - 32 (2001)
3. Vivian Ovrootsky - 31 (2025-26)
Allison Bradshaw - 31 (1999)
Kori Davison - 31 (1994)
4. Adira Engel - 30 (2003)
5. Reka Cseresnyes - 29 (1995)
Kelcy McKenna - 29 (2011)
Sun Devil Women’s Tennis Most Wins (1985-Present)
- 21-7, 1986 (Sheila McInerney)
- 20-5, 2026 (Jamea Jackson)
- 20-6, 2001 (Sheila McInerney)
20-10, 1990 (Sheila McInerney)