TEMPE, Ariz. - Third-ranked California won all six singles matches after dropping the doubles point to capture a 6-1 victory over No. 38 Arizona on Friday and snap the Wildcats' dual-match winning streak at nine. Cal's second-ranked Maegan Manasse clinched the Pac-12 Conference dual match with her court-one victory over No. 80 Lauren Marker, 6-2, 6-4.
The Golden Bears improved their record to 13-3 (4-1 in the Pac-12). Arizona has a 13-2 (4-1 Pac-12) record.
The day started off well, as the 11th-ranked duo of senior Zsofi Susanyi and junior Klara Fabikova won at court-two singles, 8-2, over Marker and Inge Hendrikx. But Arizona's Briar Preston and Shayne Austin upset Cal's fifth-ranked sophomore pair of Manasse and Denise Starr, 8-4. The Wildcats clinched doubles when Laura Oldham and Devin Chypyha defeated Cal freshmen Karla Popovic and Lyann Hoang, 8-6, on court three.
The Bears evened the overall match at 1-1 when Popovic, ranked 61st, prevailed at court-four singles. She led Chypyha, 6-0, 3-1, when the Wildcat retired. The 33rd-ranked Susanyi lost just one game in beating Oldham, 6-1, 6-0, on court three, and then junior Lynn Chi gave Cal a 3-1 lead with her first singles win of the dual-match season, beating Austin, 6-2, 6-2, on court five.
“Lynn played a lot better today,” Cal head coach Amanda Augustus said. “Getting that first match under her belt (a loss at USC on March 21) was important, and she did a good job today. She was much more consistent and much more comfortable today. Lynn is definitely able to hit the ball cleaner each match she plays.”
Manasse clinched, and the teams played out the last two matches – with the 43rd-ranked Starr and senior Cecilia Estlander recording victories – to give Cal its 6-1 win.
“We did a great job in singles today,” Augustus said. “Obviously we didn't play as well in the double as we would've like. But we really rebounded well and, I thought, were solid in every position in singles. I was pleased with how we closed out the matches in singles today even though the match was already decided.
“This is definitely a very good team victory. Anytime you win six singles matches, it shows the strength and depth of our team. For this match everyone on the team deserves acknowledgement for getting the victory.”
Cal plays at No. 24 Arizona State on Saturday at noon in Tempe.
No. 3 California (13-3, 4-1 Pac-12) defeated No. 38 Arizona 13-2 (4-1 Pac-12) – 6-1
March 27, 2015, in Tucson, Ariz.
LaNelle Robson Tennis Center
Doubles
1. Briar Preston/Shayne Austin (Arizona) def. No. 5 Maegan Manasse/Denise Starr (Cal) – 8-4
2. No. 11 Klara Fabikova/Zsofi Susanyi (Cal) def. Lauren Marker/Inge Hendrikx (Arizona) – 8-2
3. Laura Oldham/Devin Chypyha (Arizona) def. Karla Popovic/Lyann Hoang (Cal) – 8-6
Arizona captured the doubles point
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3*
*Clinched the doubles point
Singles
1. No. 2 Maegan Manasse (Cal) def. Lauren Marker (Arizona) – 6-2, 6-4
2. No. 43 Denise Starr (Cal) def. No. 114 Briar Preston (Arizona) – 7-5, 7-6(6)
3. No. 33 Zsofi Susanyi (Cal) def. Laura Oldham (Arizona) – 6-1, 6-0
4. No. 61 Karla Popovic (Cal) def. Devin Chypyha (Arizona) – 6-0, 3-1 ret.
5. No. 40 Lynn Chi (Cal) def. Shayne Austin (Arizona) – 6-2, 6-2
6. Cecilia Estlander (Cal) def. Inge Hendrikx (Arizona) – 6-3, 7-5
Order of Finish: 4, 3, 5, 1,^ 2, 6
^Clinched the overall match
