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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MPSF15?src=hash">#MPSF15</a> starts today in Tempe, and No. 2 <a href="https://twitter.com/UCLAWaterPolo">@UCLAWaterPolo</a> gets the day of quarterfinals started. <a href="http://t.co/hjfGDcDKPe">http://t.co/hjfGDcDKPe</a> <a href="http://t.co/HDE40Mfr5f">pic.twitter.com/HDE40Mfr5f</a></p>— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pac12Networks/status/591646564835319809">April 24, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Women's Water Polo
Opponent: Cal State Bakersfield (12-15, 0-6)
When: Friday, April 24, 10:30 AM PDT
Where: Mona Plummer Aquatics Center, Tempe, AZ
Watch Online: ASU Pac-12 Video
Resources: Official Preview & UCLA Press Release
Our second-ranked women's water polo team takes to the pool this morning for a quarterfinal match against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners. The Bruins blitzed the Roadrunners 17-3 last month, and nothing has happened since then to cast doubt on the ability of the Bruins to control today's match.
As the official site notes, the Bruins are the best defensive squad in the MPSF, allowing a meager 4.57 goals per game. Not surprisingly, UCLA goalkeeper Sami Hill leads the conference with a 4.47 goals against average.
All-American Rachel Fattal leads UCLA in scoring with 43 goals this season. However, the Bruins have a relatively balanced scoring attack, with major contributions coming from Emily Donohoe (32 goals), Alys Williams (31 goals), Mackenzie Barr (28 goals), Kodi Hill (26 goals), and Devin Grab (25 goals).
I expect Coach Brooks to use today's match as a warmup for a semifinal encounter with the Trojans tomorrow afternoon. If UCLA can build a large early lead, don't be surprised to see fewer minutes in the pool for our starters in an effort to keep them fresh for likely battles with USC and Stanford as UCLA advances through the bracket.
Go BRUINS!
Men's Tennis
Opponent: #8 Southern Cal (20-4, 6-1)
When: Friday, April 24, 3:00 PM PDT
Where: Libbey Park, Ojai, CA
Live Stats: Pac-12 Live Results
Official Preview: None (Thanks, Dan!)
Our #15 men's tennis team was fairly efficient in dismissing the Huskies yesterday to advance to a semifinal matchup with the eighth-ranked Trojans. Although the start of the match was significantly delayed by a tight contest between Oregon and Cal in the other quarterfinal, the Bruins started fast and finished strong to claim a 4-0 win over Washington.
However, the final scoreline shows that it wasn't smooth sailing on every court for the Bruins:
Doubles
McDonald/Redlicki (UCLA) vs. Egger/Hawke (WASH) 7-7, unfinished
Di Giulio/Sell (UCLA) def. Joao Barra/Farkas (WASH) 8-1
Mkrtchian/Rapp (UCLA) def. Douglas/Wendell Watanabe (WASH) 8-5
Singles
Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA) def. Mitch Stewart (WASH) 6-2, 6-1
Dennis Mkrtchian (UCLA) def. Jake Douglas (WASH) 6-3, 6-1
Martin Redlicki (UCLA) def. Emmett Egger (WASH) 6-2, 6-4
Karue Sell (UCLA) vs. Gal Hakak (WASH) 3-6, 3-1, unfinished
Austin Rapp (UCLA) vs. Jeff Hawke (WASH) 2-6, 3-5, unfinished
Joseph Di Giulio (UCLA) vs. Viktor Farkas (WASH) 6-4, 2-2, unfinished
The Bruins and Trojans have already met twice this season with USC winning on both occasions. A little over a month ago, the Bruins lost 4-1, and last week, with the Pac-12 title on the line, the Bruins lost 4-2. If UCLA is going to win the Pac-12 Championship tournament for a third consecutive time, the Bruins will have to up their game against USC today.
I suspect that the matchups today will be the same as we saw last week:
Doubles:
- Mackenzie McDonald & Martin Redlicki versus Yannick Hanfmann & Roberto Quiroz
- Joseph Di Giulio & Karue Sell versus Max de Vroome & Eric Johnson
- Dennis Mkrtchian & Austin Rapp versus Nick Crystal & Jonny Wang
- Mackenzie McDonald versus Yannick Hanfmann
- Dennis Mkrtchian versus Eric Johnson
- Martin Redlicki versus Roberto Quiroz
- Karue Sell versus Jonny Wang
- Austin Rapp versus Max de Vroome
- Joseph Di Giulio versus Nick Crystal
Women's Tennis
When: Friday, April 24
Where: Ojai Valley Tennis Club, Ojai, CA
Live Stats: Pac-12 Live Results
Official Preview: None (Thanks, Dan!)
UCLA enjoyed a perfect start in the Pac-12 Championship Singles tournament at Ojai Valley Tennis Club. Six matches played, six matches won. Jennifer Brady, Catherine Harrison, and Chanelle Van Nguyen all advanced to the quarterfinals with straight sets victories.
From the opening round of 32, the final scores were
- Jennifer Brady (UCLA) def. Nicole Long (Oregon) 6-0, 6-1
- Catherine Harrison (UCLA) def. Alyssa Tobita (Oregon) 6-4, 6-2
- Chanelle Van Nguyen (UCLA) def. Stephanie Vlad (ASU) 7-6, 6-3
In the second round, the final scores were
- Jennifer Brady (UCLA) def. Lauren Marker (Arizona) 1-6, 6-4, 7-5
- Catherine Harrison (UCLA) def. Sabrina Santamaria (USC) 6-2, 6-4
- Chanelle Van Nguyen (UCLA) def. E. Douglas-Miron (Washington) 6-3, 7-5
| UCLA | Quarterfinal Opponent |
|---|---|
| Jennifer Brady | Klara Fabikova (Cal) |
| Catherine Harrison | Tereza Bekerova (Utah) |
| Chanelle Van Nguyen | Zoe Scandalis (USC) |
Meanwhile, the Bruins involved in the Pac-12 Invitational Singles tournament didn't fare as well. The biggest surprise for me was Kristin Wiley's first round exit; Wiley has been playing excellent tennis in recent weeks. The other Bruin to lose in the opening round was Maia Magill. Since Magill wasn't listed on the tournament bracket, I can only assume that she was a last minute replacement for Colorado's Ashley Tiefel.
Two Bruins won both of their opening day matches to advance to the second day of the Pac-12 Invitational. Kristin Ray and Terri Fleming enjoyed very comfortable wins in both of her matches. The scores from the opening round were
- Elena Najera-Salas (Utah) def. Maia Magill (UCLA) 6-3, 6-1
- Kaitlin Ray (UCLA) def. Paulette Wolak (Stanford) 6-0, 6-1
- Terri Fleming (UCLA) def. Nora Tan (Stanford) 6-0, 6-0
- Alex Aiello (Colorado) def. Kristin Wiley (UCLA) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5
The second round scores were
- Kaitlin Ray (UCLA) def. Victoria Robertson (Utah) 6-1, 6-0
- Terri Fleming (UCLA) def. Luisa Da Rosa (Utah) 6-1, 6-4
Ray and Fleming will play their quarterfinal matches today at noon.
| UCLA | Quarterfinal Opponent |
|---|---|
| Kaitlin Ray | Devin Chypyha (Arizona) |
| Terri Fleming | Gabby Smith (USC) |
There's plenty of other action to keep the Bruins busy when they're not contesting their quarterfinal singles matches. Doubles play begins this morning and continues in the afternoon.
UCLA has one pair competing in the Pac-12 Doubles Champiionship.
| UCLA | Opponent | Start Time | Second Match Start Time (if advancing) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Chanelle Van Nguyen Kristen Wiley |
Klara Fabikova (Cal) Zsofi Susanyi (Cal) |
10:15 AM | 2:00 PM |
The Bruins also have a single pair competing in the Pac-12 Invitational Doubles tournament.
| UCLA | Opponent | Start Time | Second Match Start Time (if advancing) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Terri Fleming Maia Magill |
Lynn Chi (Cal) Karla Popovic (Cal) |
9:00 AM | 2:00 PM |
In principle, the results for all of the women's matches should be available at the Pac-12 Women's Tennis Championship website. However, as we saw yesterday, the Live Results functionality for the Pac-12 Championship tournament was extremely unreliable, and there seems to be no live update source for the Pac-12 Invitational tournament. Since the UCLA women's tennis twitter account was silent yesterday, that can't be counted on for up-to-date scores. I'll do my best to post current scores in the comments section below as they become available.
Go BRUINS!