BOULDER, Colo. – Berta Passola Folch posted the first clinching win of her young career and the California women's tennis team defeated Colorado, 4-3, in a Pac-12 Conference clash on Sunday indoors at the Rocky Mountain Tennis Center. The freshman also helped Cal win the doubles point and establish an early 1-0 lead.
 
The Bears – ranked 55th – improved their record to 4-5 (1-1 Pac-12). The Buffaloes are 7-5 (0-2 Pac-12).
 
"This team is forming its identity the more we're able to compete," Cal head coach Amanda Augustus said. "It was a good team victory overall."
 
Passola Folch, who hails from Barcelona, paired with Hannah Viller Moeller to defeat Ellen Puzak and Betina Tokac, 6-0, at court-three doubles. Cal's 16th-ranked Katja Wiersholm and Jessica Alsola clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 victory over Antonia Balzert and Aya El Sayed on court one.
 
"We had a slightly different lineup, with Berta coming into the doubles lineup today," Augustus said. "The doubles point was crucial. I'm really pleased that some of the things we've been working on we're starting to implement.
 
"Berta's doing a great job. She's finally back to 100 percent after having a little bit of an injury to work through. She's learning a lot and learning fast. These matches against Colorado and Utah (on Friday) were her first at altitude ever. She just really took care of business today and got her first clinching win for the team, which is exciting."
 
In singles, Alsola, ranked 36th, gave Cal a 2-0 lead when she bested Elys Ventura, 6-1, 6-3, on court two.
 
The teams alternated wins and losses the rest of the way. After a setback cut the Bears' lead to 2-1, the 122nd-ranked Wiersholm topped Mila Stanojevic, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, to give Cal a 3-1 lead. Another Bears loss made the score 3-2.
 
That set up Passola Folch to secure the win, and the Spaniard didn't disappoint with a 6-4, 6-0 result over Tokac on court five. Cal led 4-2, and a loss in the last match of the day made the final score 4-3.
 
Cal heads home to play Hawaii in a nonconference contest on March 12 at the Hellman Tennis Complex.
 
No. 55 California (4-5, 1-1 Pac-12) 4, Colorado (7-5, 0-2 Pac-12) 3
March 5, 2023, in Boulder, Colo.
Rocky Mountain Tennis Center
 
Doubles
1. No. 16 Jessica Alsola/Katja Wiersholm (Cal) def. Antonia Balzert/Aya El Sayed (CU), 6-4*
2. Haley Giavara/Erin Richardson (Cal) vs. Mila Stanojevic/Elys Ventura (CU), 6-5 Unfinished
3. Berta Passola Folch/Hannah Viller Moeller (Cal) def. Ellen Puzak/Betina Tokac (CU), 6-0
 
Order of Finish – 3, 1*
*Clinched the doubles point
 
Singles
1. Antonia Balzert (CU) def. Haley Giavara (Cal), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
2. No. 36 Jessica Alsola (Cal) def. Elys Ventura (CU), 6-1, 6-3
3. No. 122 Katja Wiersholm (Cal) def. Mila Stanojevic (CU), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5
4. Aya El Sayed (CU) def. Hannah Viller Moeller (Cal), 6-2, 6-3
5. Berta Passola Folch (Cal) def. Betina Tokac (CU), 6-4, 6-0^
6. Carri Hayes (CU) def. Cami Brown (Cal), 4-6, 6-3, 1-0(1)
 
Order of Finish – 2, 1, 3, 4, 5^, 6
^Clinched the overall win