MADISON, Wis. – Lynn Chi's court-three singles victory wrapped up sixth-ranked and fourth-seeded California's 4-0 victory over host Wisconsin in the opening round of 16 of the ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championship on Friday evening at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium. The Golden Bears (3-0) advanced to Saturday's quarterfinal round to play seventh-ranked Virginia (4-1) at 3:30 p.m. CT.
“We're just pleased to get the first match under our belt and get out on the court,” Cal head coach Amanda Augustus said. “It was great. Wisconsin had a great turnout in terms of fans supporting the match. It was a good atmosphere, and I know our girls were excited to get underway.”
Chi, a senior, beat the Badgers' Kendall Kirsch, 6-3, 6-1, to end the contest. Earlier, junior Denise Starr topped Maria Avgerinos, 6-1, 6-1, on court four and 81st-ranked freshman Olivia Hauger bested Sydney Rider, 6-1, 6-1, on court five.
“The way the courts are laid out, courts one and two are on one side, and courts three, four, five and six are together on the other side,” Augustus said. “We got off to good starts on the back four courts. Usually once Lynn gets her rhythm and gets rolling, she's very good at finishing, and she loves clinching matches for the team. It was exciting for a senior to clinch a match for us.”
The 43rd-ranked duo of senior Klara Fabikova and freshman Olivia Hauger clinched the doubles point for Cal when it defeated Wisconsin's Rider and Ekaterina Stepanova, 6-3, on court two. The third-ranked Bear pair of juniors Starr and Maegan Manasse had earlier beaten the Badgers' Kirsch and Lauren Chypyha, 6-2, on court one.
Virginia – Cal's next opponent – upset fifth-seeded Texas A&M, 4-1, in Friday's round of 16.
The tournament concludes on Monday.
No. 6 California (3-0) defeated Wisconsin (2-1) – 4-0
Cal Results at the ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championship
Feb. 5, 2016, in Madison, Wis.
Nielsen Tennis Stadium
Doubles
1. No. 3 Maegan Manasse/Denise Starr (Cal) def. Lauren Chypyha/Kendall Kirsch (UW) – 6-2
2. No. 43 Klara Fabikova/Olivia Hauger (Cal) def. Sydney Rider/Ekaterina Stepanova (UW) – 6-3
3. Lynn Chi/Maria Smith (Cal) vs. Lauren Burich/Kelsey Grambeau (UW) – 5-3 Abandoned
California won the doubles point
Order of Finish – 1, 2*
*Clinched the doubles point
Singles
1. No. 5 Maegan Manasse (Cal) vs. No. 66 Lauren Chypyha (UW) – 5-7, 1-1 Abandoned
2. No. 10 Klara Fabikova (Cal) vs. Ekaterina Stepanova (UW) – 6-0, 4-5 Abandoned
3. Lynn Chi (Cal) def. Kendall Kirsch (UW) – 6-3, 6-1
4. Denise Starr (Cal) def. Maria Avgerinos (UW) – 6-1, 6-1
5. No. 81 Olivia Hauger (Cal) def. Sydney Rider (UW) – 6-1, 6-1
6. Karla Popovic (Cal) vs. Lauren Burich (UW) – 6-1, 4-1 Abandoned
Order of Finish – 4, 5, 3*
*Clinched the overall match
