LAWRENCE, Kan. – In a close match that saw five of six singles matches go to three sets, No. 16 California ultimately lost to No. 20 Virginia, 4-1, in their opener of the ITA Kick-Off Weekend and of the dual-match season on Friday at the Jayhawk Tennis Center. Cal freshman Haley Giavara's court-two victory knotted the match at 1-1 early in singles, before the Cavaliers climbed past the Golden Bears.
 
"It was a hard-fought match today by both teams," Cal head coach Amanda Augustus said. "We had a real tight doubles point and were real close in singles, with three setters on five courts. We have another match to play tomorrow, and we'll make the necessary adjustments. We saw a lot of good things out there today, and we're excited to see what we can do with this team."
 
Cal (0-1) moves on to play host and No. 19 Kansas (2-1) in Saturday's consolation match. The Cavaliers (2-0) advance to Saturday's final against No. 22 Tennessee (3-0), with the victor qualifying for next month's Oracle ITA National Team Indoor Championship.
 
In doubles, Cal and UVa split the first two matches, with Jasie Dunk and Katerina Stloukalova – on the Cal senior's birthday – beating Rosie Johanson and Vivian Glozman, 6-4, on court three. But the Cavs clinched the doubles point when Chloe Gullickson and Amber O'Dell upset Cal's 13th-ranked Giavara and Anna Bright, 6-4, on court one.
 
"Jasie and Kate got a good win in doubles, and that was a very strong team that they played on court three," Augustus said. "The doubles point on all three courts was very close, so it was good to see us pull one out."
 
The Bears got off to a good start in singles, winning five of six first sets. That included the 6-2, 6-4 win by the 21st-ranked Giavara over the 35th-ranked Johanson. But Virginia won four of six second sets to turn the tide, and the Cavs clinched the win when O'Dell upset Cal's 20th-ranked Valentina Ivanov, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, on court four.
 
"Haley beat a good player in Johanson and obviously she did a good job," Augustus said. "Overall our players did some great things on every court. We just need to make some small adjustments here and there. The overall team score doesn't dictate how close that match was."
 
Cal returns to the courts at 10 a.m. CT on Saturday to face the Jayhawks.
 
ITA Kick-Off Weekend
 
No. 20 Virginia (2-0) defeated No. 16 California (0-1), 4-1
Jan. 24, 2020, in Lawrence, Kan.
Jayhawk Tennis Center
 
Doubles
1. Chloe Gullickson/Amber O'Dell (UVa) def. No. 13 Anna Bright/Haley Giavara (Cal), 6-4*
2. Sofia Munera/Natasha Subhash (UVa) def. Valentina Ivanov/Julia Rosenqvist (Cal), 6-4
3. Jasie Dunk/Katerina Stloukalova (Cal) def. Rosie Johanson/Vivian Glozman (UVa), 6-4
 
Order of Finish – 3, 2, 1*
*Clinched the doubles point
 
Singles
1. No. 30 Natasha Subhash (UVa) def. No. 45 Julia Rosenqvist (Cal), 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
2. No. 21 Haley Giavara (Cal) def. No. 35 Rosie Johanson (UVa), 6-2, 6-4
3. Amber O'Dell (UVa) def. No. 20 Valentina Ivanov (Cal), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4^
4. No. 100 Anna Bright (Cal) vs. No. 78 Sofia Munera (UVa), 6-3, 6-7(2), Unfinished
5. Vivian Glozman (UVa) def. Katerina Stloukalova (Cal), 6-2, 1-6, 6-1
6. Erin Richardson (Cal) vs. Chloe Gullickson (UVa), 6-3, 3-6, 2-2 Unfinished
 
Order of Finish – 2, 5, 1, 3^
*Clinched the overall match