LOS ANGELES – Jessica Alsola clinched the No. 61 California women's tennis team's 5-2 victory at No. 30 UCLA on Saturday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center. The sophomore defeated Kimmi Hance, 7-5, 6-3, at court-two singles to secure the win. Alsola also paired with Katja Wiersholm to clinch the doubles point.
 
Cal improved its record to 5-5 (2-1 Pac-12). UCLA is 6-4 (1-2).
 
Today's win marked Cal's first match since March 5, as a home contest vs. Hawaii on March 12 was rained out. Cal has had three dual matches – including a nonconference match vs. UCLA slated for Feb. 4 in Berkeley – rained out this season. The Cal Winter Invitational in January was also wiped out due to inclement weather.
 
"Our biggest opponent this season has been the weather, so it was nice to get out and compete," Cal head coach Amanda Augustus said. "We've been preparing for this and we were ready to go. It's a great victory for the team, both nationally and in the conference. We were pleased we were able to get the W today."
 
The Golden Bears took a 1-0 lead in sunny L.A. after claiming the doubles point. Seniors Haley Giavara and Valentina Ivanov posted Cal's first win, beating Ava Catanzarite and Fangran Tian, 6-2, on court two. Alsola and Wiersholm got a notable win on court one to clinch the point, with the 15th-ranked Bears defeating the Bruins' sixth-ranked Hance and Ava Catanzarite, 6-2.
 
To open singles, Cal reeled off three straight wins to secure the overall victory. Leading 7-6 in the first-set tiebreaker on court five, Hannah Viller Moeller prevailed when Vanessa Ong retired with an injury, and Cal led 2-0. Wiersholm collected another win over a nationally ranked opponent when she beat the 87th-ranked Catanzarite, 6-4, 6-1. The 40th-ranked Alsola followed with her win over the 78th-ranked Hance to clinch, as Cal led 4-0.
 
The teams completed the final three matches, and Cal wound up with its 5-2 win.
 
Cal ends its L.A. trip on Sunday at noon, when the Bears face No. 38 USC.

No. 61 California (5-5, 2-1 Pac-12) 5, No. 30 UCLA (6-4, 1-2 Pac-12) 2
March 25, 2023, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Los Angeles Tennis Center
 
Doubles
1. No. 15 Jessica Alsola/Katja Wiersholm (Cal) def. No. 6 Kimmi Hance/Elise Wagle (UCLA), 6-2*
2. Haley Giavara/Valentina Ivanov (Cal) def. Ava Catanzarite/Fangran Tian (UCLA), 6-2
3. Berta Passola Folch/Erin Richardson (Cal) vs. Vanessa Ong/Sasha Vagramov (UCLA), 3-5 Unfinished
 
Order of Finish – 2, 1*
*Clinched the doubles point
 
Singles
1. No. 23 Fangran Tian (UCLA) def. Haley Giavara (Cal), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3
2. No. 40 Jessica Alsola (Cal) def. No. 78 Kimmi Hance (UCLA), 7-5, 6-3^
3. Katja Wiersholm (Cal) def. No. 87 Ava Catanzarite (UCLA), 6-4, 6-1
4. Elise Wagle (UCLA) def. Valentina Ivanov (Cal), 6-4, 5-5 ret.
5. Hannah Viller Moeller (Cal) def. Vanessa Ong (UCLA), 6-6(7-6) ret.
6. Berta Passola Folch (Cal) def. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA), 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-3
 
Order of Finish – 5, 3, 2^, 4, 1, 6
^Clinched the overall win