The opening day at the Women’s National Team Indoors in Seattle turned into an extremely long day despite singles being played first in each of the eight round of 16 matches. Three of the first four matches were decided by a sudden death doubles point with the higher seeded team winning each of those matches. Due to the weather closing down the University of Washington at 3pm (pacific) the final match of the day between Stanford and LSU was shifted to the Seattle Tennis Club with the match not getting underway until 7:30pm (pacific) after initially having a 2pm start time. 

The No. 3 seed Duke edged Ohio State 4-3 in the opening match at the Nordstrom Tennis Center. The Blue Devils got off to a great start in singles picking up five opening sets and they’d get lightning quick wins from Kaitlyn McCarthy and Ellyse Hamlin at No. 4 and No. 6 singles with the duo only dropping only two games total. Despite the big early deficit, the Buckeyes would withstand the storm and fight back to get splits on three of the other courts while adding a straight set win from Isabelle Boulais at No. 1. Kolie Allen actually gave OSU its first point with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 3 and then after Boulais tied it at 2-2 Shiori Fukuda would put the Buckeyes in front with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 2. In the final singles match at No. 5, Duke’s Margaryta Bilokin picked up a crucial break on the deciding point to go in front 5-4 in the third and then she’d serve it out to win 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

The match-deciding doubles point saw three lopsided scores with Duke winning 6-1 at No. 2, Ohio State winning 6-1 at No. 1, and Duke’s Kelly Chen and Meible Chi clinching the victory at No. 3 with a 6-2 win. 

DUKE WINS!!!!!!!

HUGE team effort to rally over #16 Ohio State to win 4-3!! #GoDuke | #AllUs | #ITAIndoorNationals ?? pic.twitter.com/mS7IYO7djV

Duke Women’s Tennis (@DukeWTEN) February 8, 2019

It was a tough match, head coach Jamie Ashworth said. Give credit to Ohio State because there was a point in the match where youre looking at the scores and thinking this could be over in an hour and 20 minutes. We won five first sets and were in control of the match and they hung around, dug really deep and did a good job of fighting back. We went from that to hoping Margaret [Margaryta Bilokin] can pull her match out and get to doubles. She came up big. It was a tough match and a battle. Ohio State is good and it was a great team win for us.

The biggest thing about the match today was our seniors, Ashworth said. The two of them did a great job in singles and doubles with the emotion. Hopefully others can learn from that but Ellyse [Hamlin] and Kaitlyn [McCarthy] were huge for us today. Theyve been in matches like this but today was big for them and big for our team.

I thought as there was more pressure on her [Margaryta] at the end, she played better, Ashworth said. She won the majority of those last points at the net and its great to see not only for her own confidence but to come through in that situation was really good to see. It was great for her teammates to see that from her as well.

Quoting Coach Melissa Schaub – We competed hard out there. Duke is a good team and in some big moments I thought they played more aggressively. We have some really good fighters and we are going to keep getting better.

#4 Duke 4, #16 Ohio State 3
Feb 08, 2019 at Seattle, Wash. (Nordstrom Tennis Center)
Singles competition
1. Isabelle Boulais (OSU) def. #11 Maria Mateas (DU) 7-5, 6-4
2. Shiori Fukuda (OSU) def. #8 Meible Chi (DU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
3. Kolie Allen (OSU) def. #21 Kelly Chen (DU) 1-6, 6-4, 6-1
4. #100 Kaitlyn McCarthy (DU) def. Danielle Wolf (OSU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Margaryta Bilokin (DU) def. #99 Luna Dormet (OSU) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
6. Ellyse Hamlin (DU) def. Mary Beth Hurley (OSU) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles competition
1. #29 Shiori Fukuda/Isabelle Boulais (OSU) def. #30 Maria Mateas/Margaryta Bilokin (DU) 6-1
2. Ellyse Hamlin/Kaitlyn McCarthy (DU) def. Luna Dormet/Kolie Allen (OSU) 6-1
3. Kelly Chen/Meible Chi (DU) def. Danielle Wolf/Mary Beth Hurley (OSU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Ohio State 2-2; National ranking #16
Duke 6-0; National ranking #4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,6,3,1,2,5)

The opening match of the day at the Seattle Tennis Club (4 miles away from UW’s Nordstrom TC) was equally as exciting with the No. 6 seed Pepperdine edging Syracuse 4-3. Each team took three opening sets in singles but only two would finish in straight sets with Syracuse’s Gabriela Knutson winning comfortably at No. 1 while Pepperdine’s Adrijana Lekaj won easily at No. 4. Syracuse’s Miranda Ramirez put the Orange ahead with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 win at No. 3 and Ester Liba Mesh put them a point away from the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(5) win at No. 6. Pepperdine’s Evgeniya Levashova kept the Waves in it with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 win at No. 2 and Satsuk Takumura came back to win 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 to make the doubles point the decider. 

Pepperdine’s Lahey and Levashova came back from 2-4 down to win 7-5 at No. 1 and Daria Kuczer and Dzina Milovanovic would send the Waves to the quarterfinals with a 6-4 win at No. 3.

#7 Pepperdine 4, #10 Syracuse 3

2/8/2019 at Seattle, WA (Seattle Tennis Club)
Singles competition
1. #48 Knutson, Gabreila (SYR) def. Lahey, Ashley (PEPPW) 6-2, 6-1
2. #13 Levashova, Evgeniya (PEPPW) def. Golubovskaya, Sofya (SYR) 6-3, 5-7, 6-4
3. #67 Ramirez, Miranda (SYR) def. #52 Failla, Jessica (PEPPW) 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
4. Lekaj, Adrijana (PEPPW) def. Yusupova, Guzal (SYR) 6-1, 6-3
5. Takamura, Satsuki (PEPPW) def. Hegab, Dina (SYR) 5-7, 6-3, 6-3
6. Liba Mesh, Ester (SYR) def. Milovanovic, Dzina (PEPPW) 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5)
Doubles competition
1. #1 Lahey, Ashley/Levashova, Evgeniya (PEPPW) def. Knutson, Gabriela/Ramirez, Miranda (SYR) 7-5
2. #12 Failla, Jessica/Iamachkine,Anastasia (PEPPW) vs. Golubovskaya, Sofya/Tritou, Maria (SYR) 4-4, unfinished
3. Milovanovic, Dzina/Kuczer, Daria (PEPPW) def. Yusupova, Guzal/Hegab, Dina (SYR) 6-4
Match Notes:
Syracuse 4-3; National ranking #10
Pepperdine University 3-0; National ranking #7
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,4,3,6,2,5)

In the second match of the day at the Seattle Tennis Club, the No. 7 seed UCLA looked like it was headed towards a 4-0 shutout against South Carolina but momentum swung the other way and it’d be another hour before the Bruins pulled out a 4-3 win. UCLA jumped out to a 3-0 lead after straight set wins from Elysia Bolton, Ayan Broomfield, and Alaina Miller at No. 2, No. 3, and No. 6 and the match at No. 1 was all square at 5-5 in the third between Jada Hart and Ingrid Gamarra Martins. South Carolina’s Martins would take the final two games to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 and a short while later the Gamecocks would add straight set wins from Megan Davies and Silvia Chinellato at No. 4 and No. 5 to tie it at 3-3 (the matches at 1, 2, and 3 went on first with the others not starting until after the conclusion of the Pepperdine/Syracuse match).

The deciding doubles point saw UCLA win 6-2 at No. 2 and South Carolina win 6-3 at No. 3. UCLA’s Broomfield and Andrews would provide the clincher with a 6-4 win at No. 1 over the ITA’s No. 4 ranked team of Martins and Horvit. 

“(Friday) was a tough one to swallow,” head coach Kevin Epley said. “It came down to a number one doubles match with two highly ranked teams and UCLA stepped up. We have to credit the Bruins for a very hard-fought match. The great thing about this tournament is that we get to go right back at it again (Saturday) against another strong team. We just have to learn from (Friday) and move on.”

Into the #ITAIndoors quarters!!

Andrews/Broomfield clinch the doubles point and the match for the Bruins!! pic.twitter.com/XiGrmKG4K7

UCLA Women’s Tennis (@uclawtennis) February 8, 2019

#8 UCLA 4, #15 South Carolina 3
2/8/2019 at Seattle, WA (Seattle Tennis Club)
Singles competition
1. #16 Ingrid Gamarra Martins (SCAR) def. Jada Hart (UCLA) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
2. #18 Elysia Bolton (UCLA) def. #38 Paige Cline (SCAR) 7-5, 6-3
3. #117 Ayan Broomfield (UCLA) def. #79 Mia Horvit (SCAR) 6-1, 6-1
4. Megan Davies (SCAR) def. #77 Abi Altick (UCLA) 6-4, 6-2
5. Silvia Chinellato (SCAR) def. Taylor Johnson (UCLA) 7-6(5), 6-4
6. Alaina Miller (UCLA) def. Kennedy Wicker (SCAR) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. #14 Andrews/Broomfield (UCLA) def. #4 Gamarra Martins/Horvit (SCAR) 6-4
2. #15 Bolton/Hart (UCLA) def. #23 Davies/Rohrabacher (SCAR) 6-2
3. Chinellato/Cline (SCAR) def. Johnson/Miller (UCLA) 6-3
Match Notes:
South Carolina 4-2; National ranking #15
UCLA 5-0; National ranking #8
Order of finish: Singles (3,2,6,1,4,5); Doubles (2,3,1)

It doesn’t look like they’ll be any consolation matches on Saturday with UW closed for the day. 

The big result of the day on the men’s side came in Charlottesville with Virginia taking down top-ranked Wake Forest 5-2. The Cavaliers overcame the loss of the doubles point with some stellar play in singles against a full strength Wake lineup that included last year’s NCAA runner-up Borna Gojo. UVA freshman Ryan Goetz tied the match at 1-1 with a dominating win at No. 5 and fellow freshman Brandon Nakashima gave the Wahoos a lead they wouldn’t relinquish with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 3. Sophomore Gianni Ross would make it 3-1 with a 7-6, 6-2 win at No. 4 though Wake was still ahead on the remaining three courts.

ITA No. 1 Petros Chrysochos won 7-6, 6-3 at No. 2 to pull the Deacs to within 4-3 but neither Borna Gojo or Julian Zlobinsky could hold on to their set lead. UVA senior Aswin Lizen came back from a 4-6, 2-4 deficit to clinch with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 6 and second later junior Carl Soderlund would make the final 5-2 with a 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-1 win at No. 1. 

“I am just proud of my guys for showing up to work every day,” said head coach Andres Pedroso. “These guys put in a full effort. We talked about it yesterday, how special it is, the culture that we have, how everyone is working hard and just trying to find a way to get better. Wins like this are going to happen if you put in the work and you have the talent that we have. I think today shows the guys that we can put ourselves in a position to win against anyone. And it is going to be a dogfight against anyone in the country. We have to walk out there with some confidence and understand that there are going to be ups and downs during matches. The most important thing is that we just work hard every day in practice and get our schoolwork done. We need to just live quality lives and if we do that, we are going to maximize and be in positions to win.”

“I had to completely reset mentally after the double-fault and come back really competitive,” Lizen said. “You have to be ready for the ups and downs. When I saw the ball go past him, I almost threw my racquet out of pure excitement. That is my first clinch in such a big match. It was amazing to have my teammates come out and celebrate it with me. I am so proud of what all the guys did today. To top the No. 1 team in the country at home in front of an amazing crowd, it does not get better than this in a regular-season win. After last year, to be able to compete with this team that hard, be so close and actually win it, just shows what we are capable of this season.” 

? out the highlights from today’s thrilling 5-2 victory over No. 1 Wake Forest. pic.twitter.com/CFD73hxOpP

Virginia Men’s Tennis (@UVAMensTennis) February 9, 2019

Stanford looked down and out after falling behind USC 3-1 while also trailing of two of the three remaining courts but they staged a big comeback to stun No. 5 USC 4-3. The Trojans won a tight doubles point that was decided by a tiebreak at No. 2 and then after straight set wins from Brandon Holt and Daniel Cukierman at No. 1 and No. 2 they stood just a point away from the win. Stanford got straight set wins from Michael Genender and Sangeet Sridhar at No. 5 and No. 6 and both William Genesen and Sameer Kumar came back from a set down at No. 3 and No. 4 to win in three to give Stanford the win. 

No. 10 Stanford 4, No. 5 USC 3
Feb 8, 2019 at Los Angeles, Calif (Marks Stadium)
DOUBLES
1) Axel Geller/Alexandre Rotsaert (STAN) d. Brandon Holt/Riley Smith (USC) 6-4
2) Jake Jaede/Laurens Verboven (USC) d. Sameer Kumar/Timothy Sah (STAN) 7-6 (6)
3) No. 21 Daniel Cukierman/Tanner Smith (USC) d. Jack Barber/William Genesen (STAN) 6-4
Order of Finish: 1,3,2
SINGLES
1) No. 56 Brandon Holt (USC) d. No. 10 Axel Geller (STAN) 6-2, 6-4
2) No. 4 Daniel Cukierman (USC) d. No. 61 Alexandre Rotsaert (STAN) 6-4, 6-1
3) No. 33 William Genesen (STAN) d. Riley Smith (USC) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
4) No. 43 Sameer Kumar (STAN) d. Mor Bulis (USC) 5-7, 7-5, 6-3
5) Michael Genender (STAN) d. No. 94 Jake DeVine (USC) 6-0, 6-2
6) Sangeet Sridhar (STAN) d. Jake Sands (USC) 7-6 (4), 6-4
Order of Finish: 5,2,1,6,3,4

Other Results:

• (M) #2 Ohio State def. Arizona State 6-1 – Buckeyes took dubs and won in straights at 2, 4, 5, and 6. Wolf a third set STB over Ponwith at 1 and Roberts did the same at 3 over Seelig. 
• (M) #3 Mississippi State def. Texas Tech 4-2 – Bulldogs picked up a road win with 7-5 wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles while also getting straight set wins in singles from Borges, Rakic, and Broska at 1, 3, and 5. 
• (M) #6 Texas def. Tulsa 6-1 – Horns won on the road with straight set wins at 5 and 6 while the rest went the distance
• (M) #7 UCLA def. Cal 4-2 – Bruins dropped the doubles point and lost in straight sets at No. 5 but came back with straight set wins 1, 2, & 6 while freshman Govind Nanda clinched with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win at No. 3
• (M) #14 Illinois def. Kentucky 4-1 – Illini took dubs and got straight set wins from Chakravarthi and Khlif at 5 and 6 while Zeke Clark clinched 6-2 in the third at 3. 
• (M) #15 TCU def. Wichita State 6-0 – Horned Frogs won all completed sets in singles
• (M) #16 Michigan def. Washington 5-2 – Wolverines won a pair of tiebreaks in doubles and added straight set wins at 1, 2, and 4 
• (M) #22 Florida State def. Auburn 4-0 – Noles played without their top two players (Dougaz/Poullain) 
• (M) #25 Minnesota def. Dartmouth 7-0 – Gophers won a close doubles point and then won three singles matches in straights and the others in three sets
• (M) UCF def. Indiana 4-3 – Knights won on the road with Juan Pablo Mazzuchi clinching with a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 3