SAN DIEGO/TEMPE, Ariz. – A successful first half of the 2023-24 season came to a close Sunday as the last Golden Bear standing at the ITA National Fall Championships – Jessica Alsola – competed in the consolation final and as another California women's tennis group concluded play in the Thunderbird Invitational in Tempe, Arizona.
 
Alsola won the first set against Stanford's Connie Ma. But the 47th-ranked Bear ultimately fell to the 26th-ranked Cardinal player, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, in the title match at the Barnes Tennis Center.
 
All four Bears who played at fall nationals had a good first half of the year. Senior Hannah Viller Moeller improved to 13-2 in singles and excelled with her new doubles partner, freshman Mao Mushika, with the duo winning the top-flight title in the Cal Fall Invitational, in their first tournament together, and then capturing the crown at the ITA Northwest Regional Championships, in their second tournament together.
 
The veteran pair of Alsola and Katja Wiersholm – regional runners-up to their teammates – are ranked ninth nationally and along with Mushika and Viller Moeller give the Bears two talented duos for the dual-match season.
 
Along with Viller Moeller's and Alsola's successes in singles, Wiersholm, who's ranked 98th, has posted a 9-1 record in the fall, with her only loss coming to Viller Moeller in the quarterfinals of ITA regionals.
 
"I'm very pleased with where we're at as a team after the fall," Cal head coach Amanda Augustus said. "Hannah making the quarterfinals of fall nationals in her first appearance there, losing in a very tight match there, is part of an impressive fall for her. She's had countless ranked wins. And with Jessica making it through to another final today, it just shows the improvement of our team and the consistent performances across the board that we have.
 
"Along with Hannah's success in singles, she also has only lost one match in doubles all fall. She and Mao (11-1) have done a great job. Jessica and Katja have been a top-10 team in the nation. We've positioned ourselves well for the spring, and I'm excited to continue to see where this team will go."
 
Over in Tempe on Sunday, the Bears went 6-0 in their matches on the last day of Arizona State's Thunderbird Invitational. Lan Mi won again – beating ASU's Patricija Spaka, 6-2, 6-4 – to finish 3-0 in singles.
 
"Lan has transitioned very well from her previous school to here," Augustus said. "She won four matches to win the singles title in the Saint Mary's Fall Invitational, and she was undefeated in singles this weekend at ASU. The day-to-day training with our team has only continued to improve her game. Her competitive spirit, her love of the game and her passion for it are fantastic additions to our team, and we're enjoying having her on the team.
 
"All of our new players have played well. Tiziana had a win in Tempe over UCLA's Elise Wagle, who's a good player. Lan won her last eight matches in a row. I think this is the best fall we've had as a team in four or five years. I'm proud of everything all our players have achieved."


ITA National Fall Championships
Nov. 5, 2023, in San Diego, Calif.
Barnes Tennis Center
 
Cal Results
 
Consolation Draw Singles Final
No. 26 Connie Ma (Stanford) def. No. 47 Jessica Alsola (Cal), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2

 
Thunderbird Invitational
Nov. 5, 2023, in Tempe, Ariz.
Whiteman Tennis Center
 
Cal Results
 
Singles
Lan Mi (Cal) def. Patricija Spaka (ASU), 6-2, 6-4  
Makenna Thiel (Cal) def. Mia Jovic (UCLA), 6-1, 6-1
Berta Passola Folch (Cal) def. Santa Strombacha (GCU), 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4 
Tiziana-Marie Schomburg (Cal) def. Valeriia Krokhotina (GCU), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 
 
Doubles
Berta Passola Folch/Lan Mi (Cal) def. Anne Christine Lutkemeyer/Ahmani Guichard (UCLA), 7-5
Tiziana-Marie Schomburg/Makenna Thiel (Cal) def. Valeriia Krokhotina/Iva Sepa (GCU), 6-2
 
Stay Posted
For further coverage of the Bears, follow them on Twitter (@CalWomensTennis), Instagram (@CalWomensTennis) and Facebook (/CalWomensTennis/).