NU Falls to #22 UCLA on Senior Day

In its final home match of the season with a near doubles point win, the No. 72 Nebraska women’s tennis team fell 4-0 to No. 22 UCLA on Senior Day. The Huskers (12-10, 2-9 Big Ten) came close to a doubles upset at the No. 2 spot, but the Bruins (12-7, 7-3 Big Ten) clinched the point and sealed the sweep with three singles victories.

Big Ten dual action against UCLA started with doubles play at the Dillon Tennis Center. First up, Maria Taranova and Natalia Trigosso defeated Lutkemeyer/Guichard, 6-2 on Court Three, the Husker duo’s third conference win. Shortly after, seniors Ana Zamburek and Lucy Loy fell to #19 Hance/Wagle on Court One, 6-3. The doubles point was decided on Court 2 where Emma Rizzetto and Reya Lee Coe battled, but lost to #2 Fakih/Center, 7-5, and the Bruins claimed their 16th doubles point of the season.

Singles play started with the Huskers down 0-1. On Court Five, Guichard topped Coe 6-4, 6-1. The Bruins went up 3-0 when #19 Lutkemeyer defeated Zamburek at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-3. UCLA clinched the match from Court Four after Rossini lost to #33 Fakih 6-0, 7-5.

The remaining three matches were left unfinished. Taranova battled for a third set against #97 Hance leaving the score at 5-7, 3-2. Rizzetto fought hard in the first set, but trailed #76 Wagle 5-7, 0-4 before it was abandoned. Loy led Court Six in the second set against Center after battling with a tiebreak loss in the first, abandoned at 6(3)-7, 3-2.

With the 4-0 loss, the Huskers were dealt their fourth defeat of the season from a top-25 program. The Bruins took their fifth-straight victory, as well as the first matchup between UCLA and Nebraska.

UP NEXT
The Huskers close their regular season on the west coast, traveling to No. 17 Washington and Oregon next weekend. The Big Red meet the Huskies on Friday, April 18, at 3 p.m. (CT). In its final match, NU takes on the Ducks on Sunday, April 20, at 11 a.m. (CT). Both matches will have live stats and streams, as well as content and updates posted on socials @HuskerWTennis. 

#22 UCLA 4, #72 Nebraska 0

Doubles competition:

1. #19 Kimmi Hance/Elise Wagle (UCLA) def. Ana Zamburek/Lucy Loy (NEB) 6-3
2. #2 Kate Fakih/Olivia Center (UCLA) def. Emma Rizzetto/Reya Lee Coe (NEB) 7-5
3. Maria Taranova/Natalia Trigosso (NEB) vs. Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer/Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) 6-2

Singles competition:

1. #19 Anne-Christine Lutkemeyer (UCLA) def. Ana Zamburek (NEB) 6-3, 6-3
2. Maria Taranova (NEB) vs. #97 Kimmi Hance (UCLA) 5-7, 3-2 UF
3. Emma Rizzetto (NEB) vs. #76 Elise Wagle (UCLA) 5-7, 0-4 UF
4. #33 Kate Fakih (UCLA) def. Tiziana Rossini (NEB) 6-0, 7-5
5. Ahmani Guichard (UCLA) def. Reya Lee Coe (NEB) 6-4, 6-1
6. Lucy Loy (NEB) vs. Olivia Center (UCLA) 6(3)-7, 3-2 UF