ORLANDO, Fla. – Berta Passola Folch's postseason run came to an end Sunday at the USTA National Campus, where the California women's tennis senior fell to North Carolina's Reese Brantmeier in the final of the NCAA Singles Championship.
 
After dropping just one set in five tournament wins leading up to the championship match, the 113th-ranked Cal senior lost 6-3, 6-3 to the third-ranked and Nos. 9-16-seeded Tar Heel.
 
This has been Passola Folch's best season as a Golden Bear, with the Spaniard earning All-America honors upon reaching the round of 16 and finishing the first half of the season as the NCAA runner-up in the first individual postseason tournament of her career. She boasts a 16-4 singles record.
 
"Her game is a little more organized and she's more self-assured through a gradual buildup of confidence and playing and practicing to her strengths," Cal interim head coach Kris Kwinta said. "She has a lot of weapons, though it's really about her forehand. She's learned to trust a little bit more, concentrate on hitting the forehand and be more aggressive."

"Once big thing is I told myself this is my last year, I need to make the most of it, compete hard and have fun out there," Passola Folch said. "I've done quite a bit of mental work and learned how to function in these high-pressure moments. I'm proud to see that work pay off this fall, and it feels amazing to get this far."
 
Cal wrapped up the fall half of the season with a strong showing at the individual championships, which included four Bears (Passola Folch, Mao Mushika, Greta Greco Lucchina and Naomi Xu) competing in NCAA singles and one pair (Mushika and Greco Lucchina) playing in NCAA doubles. The Bears will reconvene in January for the dual-match season.
 
"It's an indicator the level is high," Kwinta said of the Bears' postseason play. "This is a team that's going to be tough to beat. There's still a lot of work ahead. But more and more of the players have a vision of what they need to do well, and for the team to see that Berta can get to the final of NCAAs, it's a great boost of confidence. I'm excited for what the future holds."

"Now the focus is on the team season," Passola Folch added. "I hope to keep the momentum going for the spring and help the team succeed."
 
NCAA Singles Championship
Nov. 23, 2025, in Orlando, Fla.
USTA National Campus
 
Singles Final
[Nos. 9-16] No. 3 Reese Brantmeier (UNC) def. No. 113 Berta Passola Folch (Cal), 6-3, 6-3
 
Stay Posted
For further coverage of the Bears, follow them on X (@CalWomensTennis), Instagram (@CalWomensTennis) and Facebook (/CalWomensTennis).