TUCSON, Ariz. — No. 2 California (12-0, 2-0 Pac-12) made it a sweep of the Arizona schools with a 6-1 win over No. 64 Arizona Saturday afternoon in Tucson. The win furthered the team's historic undefeated start to the season. The Golden Bears clinched the victory when No. 80 Denise Starr defeated Samantha Czarniak in the second set on court four.
The win comes a day after the Bears' beat Arizona State to set a program record with its best start ever.
“Obviously we want to be No. 1 at the end of the year but we're taking the season in segments,” said head Cal women's tennis coach Amanda Augustus. “Two wins on the road here in Arizona is what we were more focused on. So I'm really happy we were able to get that.”
Arizona is 0-2 in the Pac-12 and 9-5 overall.
Saturday, Cal opened the day by capturing the doubles point with match victories by duo Lynn Chi and Maria Smith on court three and fellow duo No. 96 Olivia Hauger and No. 5 Klara Fabikova on court two. Both won their respected doubles match 6-3. On court one, No. 10 Maegan Manasse and Starr's doubles' match was halted at 4-3 following the two wins on court two and three.
Leading the way for the Bears was Fabikova who on top of winning a doubles match made quick work of her Arizona opponent on court two. She won the first two sets of the match 6-2, 6-1.
“Klara didn't play as well as she wanted to yesterday at ASU, so it was really good to see her put that behind her and do well today,” Augustus said. “When she's playing well it's hard to beat her.”
Karla Popovic also had a strong showing for Cal. On court six the sophomore won her match 6-1, 6-2.
Chi had to work hard on court three against her opponent Devin Chypyha. Chi took an early 3-1 lead in set one but saw Chypyha come all the way back and force a tiebreaker. Chi managed, though, to win the tiebreaker then win the second set 6-2.
“In the first set things didn't go her way towards the end but she fought back,” Augustus said. “That says a lot.”
Starr's victory on court four came soon after Chi's win on court three. The junior Starr won her first set 6-4 then clinched the match for Cal with a 6-0 win in set two.
No. 2 California (12-0, 2-0 Pac-12) def. Arizona (9-5, 0-2 Pac-12) – 6-1
March 5, 2016, in Tucson, Ariz.
LaNelle Robson Tennis Center
Doubles
1. No. 10 Maegan Manasse/Denise Starr (Cal) vs. Lauren Marker/Shayne Austin (Arizona) — 4-3 Abandoned
2. No. 52 Klara Fabikova/Olivia Hauger (Cal) def. Samantha Czarniak/Inge Hendrix (Arizona) — 6-3
3. Lynn Chi/Maria Smith (Cal) def. Devin Chypyha/Sophia Thomas (Arizona) — 6-3
Cal won the doubles point
Order of Finish – 2, 3*
*Clinched the doubles point
Singles
1. No. 54 Lauren Marker (Arizona) def. No. 10 Maegan Manasse (Cal) — 6-4, 7-6, 10-7
2. No. 5 Klara Fabikova (Cal) def. Shayne Austin (Arizona) — 6-2, 6-1
3. Lynn Chi (Cal) def. Devin Chypyha (Arizona) — 7-6, 6-2
4. No. 80 Denise Starr (Cal) def. Samantha Czarniak (Arizona) — 6-4, 6-0
5. No. 96 Olivia Hauger (Cal) def. Inge Hendrikx (Arizona) — 3-6, 6-2, 6-1
6. Karla Popovic (Cal) def. Sophia Thomas (Arizona) — 6-1, 6-2
Order of Finish – 2, 6, 3, 4*, 1, 5
*Clinched the overall match
