LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The 23rd-ranked California women's tennis team booked a spot in the NCAA Championship second round and extended its lead in the all-time series with No. 39 Utah to 14-1 when it defeated the Utes 4-1 in the first round Friday at Marks Tennis Stadium. Cal sophomore Naomi Xu posted a three-set win over Emma Valletta to clinch the victory.
 
The Golden Bears – who improved their record to 13-7 – next face host and No. 13 USC on Saturday. Utah ended its season at 15-10.
 
In doubles, the first-time Cal duo of freshmen Johanne Svendsen and Mille Johnna Moerk beat Utah's Emmie Moore and Kaila Barksdale 6-4 on Court 3. But the Utes won on Courts 1 and 2 to claim the doubles point.
 
The Bears started off strong in singles, winning five of six first sets. Cal senior All-American Berta Passola Folch – ranked 22nd – tied the overall match 1-1 when she bested Sara Akid 6-3, 7-5 on Court 2, and then Moerk gave Cal a 2-1 lead when she beat Moore 6-4, 6-2 on Court 4. Sophomore Anya Murthy — a former Trojan playing at USC for the first time since transferring to Cal — made the score 3-1 when she beat Utah's Hayley Roberts 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 on Court 6.
 
Xu earned her first clinching win of the season when she beat Valletta 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to end the match.
 
Cal plays USC for the second time this season on Saturday at noon PT, with the winner of that match advancing to next week's NCAA Super Regionals. The Bears defeated the Trojans 4-2 on Jan. 31 in the second match of the regular season in Berkeley.
 
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