BERKELEY, Calif. — Friday began well for the 23rd-ranked California women's tennis team, which honored All-American Berta Passola Folch in a Senior Day ceremony before playing No. 9 Virginia at the Hellman Tennis Complex.
 
The Cal players and coaches as well as Passola Folch's parents and brother joined the Spanish star on the court to celebrate her college career as it nears its end.
 
Then the match began and, after losing the doubles point to the Cavaliers, Cal dropped three matches in singles to fall 4-1 to its ACC-leading opponents. Passola Folch — in the third to last regular-season home match of her career — posted a straight-set singles win for the Bears, whose record now stands at 9-5 (6-3 ACC). Virginia improved to 16-4 (9-0).
 
Cal trailed 3-0 when 11th-ranked Passola Folch defeated 82nd-ranked Vivian Yang 6-4, 7-6(7) at Court 2 singles to make the score 3-1.
 
But Virginia wrapped up its win when 113th-ranked Martina Genis Salas beat Cal's 104th-ranked Naomi Xu 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 on Court 6.
 
"Today was a hard-fought match and I'm happy I got the win, but what's most important is when the team wins," Passola Folch said. "Even though it was a loss, it was a pretty special day for me. It was special to have my family here today. My college career is coming to an end, slowly, and it's kind of hard to accept a little bit, but I'm just focusing on the matches we have left. These matches are extra special and I'm just trying to enjoy every part of them. I'm just happy to still be here competing, and we're just going to get back to work and be ready for Virginia Tech."
 
Cal hosts the Hokies in an ACC match on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT at the Hellman Tennis Complex. The Bears then host No. 36 Stanford on Tuesday at 1 p.m. PT in their regular-season home finale before ending the regular season at SMU on April 10.
 
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