BERKELEY – Thirteenth-ranked California won its second straight match when it defeated Santa Clara, 5-2, on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Hellman Tennis Complex. Maria Smith clinched the contest when she beat Katya Tabachnik, 6-0, 6-3, at court-four singles. Smith also clinched the doubles point, as she and fellow junior Olivia Hauger bested Madison Clarke and Zeina El Tawil, 6-3 on court two.
 
The Bears improved to 3-1 after winning their second consecutive match, while Santa Clara fell to 0-2.
 
"On every court we're doing a lot of things well," Cal head coach Amanda Augustus said. "The good part about this week's matches, the team did really well, but we also have a list of things to work on starting next week. We have the opportunity now to work on a few things in our game and make sure we're able to execute our strategy. That comes with match play and that comes with practice."
 
Cal took a 1-0 lead against the Broncos after Smith and Hauger – who improved their season record to 7-1 – clinched the doubles point.
 
Freshman Jasie Dunk – who clinched the overall victory against San Diego State on Thursday – gave Cal a 2-0 lead when she knocked off Nadine Del Carmen, 6-3, 6-0, on court six. Freshman Anna Bright, who's ranked 27th in singles, made the score 3-0 after topping Clarke, 6-2, 6-2, on court one.
 
Smith then clinched on court four. Hauger, ranked 40th, gave Cal a 5-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-3 win over El Tawil, and the Broncos won a couple matches to make the final score 5-2.
 
Early in the dual-match part of the season, Smith has a team-best 4-0 singles record, and she has a 21-6 singles record for the year. The Houston native is having arguably her best season as a Bear.
 
"I've been working very hard on my game, especially this past summer when I played in a lot of tournaments," she said. "I was focused on being more aggressive and more confident on my strokes, and my forehand has been improving constantly. I definitely think all the work has paid off."
 
Cal next plays its fifth straight home match when it hosts UC Santa Barbara on Feb. 18 at Hellman.

 
No. 13/14 Cal (3-1) defeated Santa Clara (0-2), 5-2
Feb. 3, 2018, in Berkeley, Calif.
Hellman Tennis Complex
 
Doubles
1. Anna Bright/Julia Rosenqvist (Cal) def. Maddie Pothoff/Katya Tabachnik (SCU), 6-3*
2. Olivia Hauger/Maria Smith (Cal) def. Madison Clarke/Zeina El Tawil (SCU), 6-3
3. Vivian Glozman/Alexis Nelson (Cal) def. Elvena Gevargiz/Caitlyn Frankel (SCU), 6-2
 
Cal won the doubles point
 
*Clinched the doubles point
 
Order of Finish – 3, 1*, 2
 
Singles
1. No. 27 Anna Bright (Cal) def. Madison Clarke (SCU), 6-2, 6-2
2. Maddie Pothoff (SCU) def. Julia Rosenqvist (Cal), 5-7, 7-5, 1-0(17)
3. No. 40 Olivia Hauger (Cal) def. Zeina El Tawil (SCU), 6-2, 6-3
4. Maria Smith (Cal) def. Katya Tabachnik (SCU), 6-0, 6-3^
5. Elvena Gevgargiz (SCU) def. Alexis Nelson (Cal), 3-6, 6-4, 1-0(6)
6. Jasie Dunk (Cal) def. Nadine Del Carmen (SCU), 6-3, 6-0

^Clinched the overall match
 
Order of Finish – 6, 1, 4^, 3, 5, 2