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NCAA Women’s Championship Recap: Stanford Wins 20th NCAA National Title With Shutout Over No. 1 Georgia

by | May 20, 2019 | Blog

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For the second year in a row, third time in the last four years, and 20th time overall the Stanford Cardinal are the NCAA Women’s National Champion after the No. 3 seed defeated No. 1 Georgia 4-0.

The Cardinal finished the year on a 23-match winning streak and by defeating Georgia they avenged their only loss of the season which came in the semifinals of the National Team Indoors in Seattle. 

Stanford won the doubles point for the 23rd time in 29 matches after picking up wins at No. 2 and No. 3. The first match to finish came at No. 1 where Georgia’s Lourdes Carle and Katarina Jokic rolled to a 6-1 win over Kimberly Yee and Caroline Lampl but by then Stanford would have break leads on both of the other two courts. 

Stanford’s Janice Shin and Melissa Lord were playing together at No. 3 for the third match in a row, after not playing together for the previous seven months, but they picked up an early break to take a 2-1 lead. Georgia’s Marta Gonzalez and Meg Kowalski broke back for 2-2 but Shin and Lord would break back and hold for 4-2. After an exchange of holds, Shin and Lord would break to win it 6-3. 

The deciding match at No. 2 had seesawed back and forth with Stanford’s Michaela Gordon and Emily Arbuthnott jumping out to a 2-0 lead before Georgia’s Elena Christofi and Vivian Wolff won the next three go up 3-2*. Gordon held and then she and Arbuthnott broke from 30/40 to go in front 4-3. Arbuthnott held on the deciding point for 5-3 and then Wolff held for 4-5. Christofi and Wolff broke Gordon at love to even it at 5-5 but Gordon and Arbuthnott quickly broke Christofi’s serve to go up 6-5. Arbuthnott served it out from 40/15 to give Stanford the 7-5 win. It was just the second loss of the year for Christofi and Wolff who entered the match with a 17-1 record while Gordon and Arbuthnott improved to 17-4. 

Stanford came out quick in singles and took early break leads on every court except No. 1 and No. 6 though Emma Higuchi would eventually come back from a break down to take the first set on 6. 

Stanford senior Caroline Lampl put the Cardinal ahead 2-0 with a straight set win over Lourdes Carle at No. 3. Lampl jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the opening set and took it 6-2. In the second set, Carle broke Lampl for 1-0 but Lampl broke back and held for 2-1. Lampl would add another break and extend her lead to 5-2 but Carle would hold and break to put it back on serve at 5-4. Lampl broke back on the deciding point to close it out 6-2, 6-4. Lampl finished the year with a 22-1 dual-match record. 

Stanford senior Melissa Lord made it 3-0 after finally closing out Marta Gonzalez at No. 2. Lord won the first three games of the match, two breaks, before Gonzalez broke for 1-3 and held for 2-3. Lord then won the next three games to close out the set 6-2. In the second set, Lord opened up a 4-0 lead and would serve for the match up 5-2. Lord had four match points at 40/0 but Gonzalez came back to break and then hold for 4-5. Lord fell behind 30/40 on her next service game but fought off both break points to close it out 6-2, 6-4. Lord finished the year by winning 15 of her final 16 matches with 14 of the wins coming in straight set. 

Georgia had leads at both No. 1 and No. 4 with Katarina Jokic and Vivian Wolff up a set and Meg Kowalski had gone up a break in the second set at No. 6 after dropping the first set to Emma Higuchi in a tiebreak.

However since Georgia needed all four remaining courts they’d also have to turn around No. 5 where Stanford sophomore Janice Shin led Georgia junior Elena Christofi 6-2, 4-3. 

Shin and Christofi had exchanged several breaks in the second set but after Shin broke for 4-3 she’d hold for 5-3. Christofi fought off a match point to hold on the deciding point for 4-5 but Shin calmly closed it out with a hold from 40/15 to clinch Stanford’s 20th NCAA Championship with a 6-2, 6-4 win. 

 

Stanford senior Caroline Lampl
On what shell miss most about collegiate tennis at Stanford:
The list goes on. Theres so many amazing things that come with playing college tennis, let alone being on the Stanfords womens tennis team. The biggest thing I will miss personally is just having a family that really genuinely cares about you, not only on the court but off the court as well. These girls are just my best friends and its been such an honor being able to play by them the last four years. Our coachesour mentorshaving guided us pretty much through life the past four years, its been a really unbelievable experience. Its something Ill cherish forever. Collegiate tennis in general has just been the best years of my life. Its so much fun going out there and playing all these teams, having the opportunity to compete against the best players in the nation. The four years I will never forget.

On adding three more national titles in her time at Stanford:
Its just such a large legacy to live up to, really. Coming into Stanford, I was very intimidated… so many legends come out of this program like Nicole Gibbs, Hilary Barte, the Burdette sisters. Its really intimidating at first to live up to what theyve set the tone for us. To add three more titles to the legacy, just really means so much. Im really proud of the work that our class put in and our whole team. Its an unbelievable feeling.

On going from competing to supporting her teammates after her win:
Its definitely a lot of fun watching my teammates out there. It takes the stress off of me, getting off the court. You want to be the first off the court; you want to set the tone. But its also extremely stressful watching your teammates, too. I have so much faith in all of them on the court but you always get really nervous. Were on the sidelines grabbing each other throughout the point and the nerves are just definitely going through our heads. Its so much fun watching my teammates competing out there and really amazing to be able to support them.

On playing at the USTA National Campus:
The facilities are unmatched. I think theyre the best tennis facilities in the nation. Its just been an honor and a pleasure being able to play here, it was great.
On her message to incoming Stanford student-athletes:
Im not going to lie, Stanford is hard, and there are going to be ups and downs. The downs just make you an even stronger person. My last four years at Stanford have transformed me and made me a better person. I dont regret anything. The school has been the best experience.

Stanford senior Melissa Lord
On regrouping after failing to convert a 40-love lead when serving for the match:
Its a little tough, definitely, looking back at that. Looking around the courts and seeing your teammates also winning definitely takes the pressure off. Having the support of my teammates really calmed me down in the end.

On what shell miss most about collegiate tennis at Stanford:
Definitely the people, having teammates that support you on and off the court. Also, the coaches that care about you, not only as tennis players, but as people. The support system weve had throughout our entire college career… theres nothing like it.

On playing at the USTA National Campus:
First day on the practice court, we came on and we were like, Oh we love these courts. Just the atmosphere, everything about it was just great. We loved it.
On her message to incoming Stanford student-athletes:
Going to Stanford, its a dream come true. Obviously, this is where we wanted to go from the start. Just playing here for four years has been unmatched. To all the student-athletes out there, its not easy. Theres going to be bumps in the road. Its the best experience of your life. Looking back at it, I wouldnt regret anything.

Stanford Head Coach Lele Forood
On whether she had any doubts her team would get the win:
Well, yes, theres always a doubt. But its not a big doubt. Were really happy to win the doubles point. The conditions were really rough with the wind and stuff; it wasnt the most artistic doubles. These two especially [Caroline Lampl and Melissa Lord] came out so strong and so quick and really foraged big leads in their matches, and that made it more comfortable for all of us. And then we were winning some other matches as well. Its just a great effort on the part of the whole team and especially these two, who set the tone right from the start of the singles.

On the advantage of having a veteran team:
Well, we did use our freshmen a lot this season, and even one of them played in the win yesterday. They were a part of this, both of them. But obviously having a lot of seniors is very helpful; theyve been in these situations before and they pretty much know how to handle it. Thats a big part of the continued winning of our program.

On having a relatively straightforward path to the title:
I dont know if Id say if any of our matches were in any way routine. I think there were ups and downs to all of them. There were a lot of great teams here. Were just happy to get by all of them.

On playing at the USTA National Campus:
We had the opportunity to play a College MatchDay here a couple years ago, and we just loved it. The atmosphere there, the situation with the courts was just amazing. When we found out they were going to be hosting the National Championships, I think we were very excited to come here and play in Orlando at the USTAs home. Im one who would like to see a permanent home for this tournament. Im hoping its here someday permanently.

On what shell miss most about the seniors:
Theyre a fun group. They just have a really good time with each other… sometimes too good of a time, during practice when we have to tone them down. When youre going to see people for nine months a year almost daily, its better to have them having a good time and enjoy being there and making practice and competitions fun. That will be what I miss.

 

Georgia Head Coach Jeff Wallace
On whether the loss came from Stanfords strength or Georgia not playing their A-game:
Stanford played a great match, clearly. You have to congratulate them, take your hats off to them. I thought they really did play a great match. I thought we had moments in several of our matches where we looked like we were surging ahead and having an opportunity, then we just didnt quite sustain that. Youve got to credit them for a lot of that. They clearly were the better team tonight. Super proud of our guys, though. I really feel like its been a special year for us, we wanted this last one really bad but unfortunately, not able to get it. Like I said, a lot of that had to do with Stanford.

On how the length of the last two matches affected their match tonight:
I really feel like our guys are fit and strong and are able to get ready to go today. Sometimes, its the mental battle of playing those tight matches like that and having late nights. I dont really like to think of it in that way. Those are pretty much, in my mind, excuses. I just want to give credit to Stanford. I know my team came to play and they played hard and gave it everything they had, we just didnt quite have enough today.

On the momentum swings during the match:
In the doubles point, we had won at No. 1, and played great. We had opportunities, we had one game where we were up 40-love on Court 3 to build a lead and we ended up losing that game. That would have been a nice opportunity there. And then Court 2, doubles, when they broke back and tied it up, we didnt hold that next game. That was another opportunity. That was a great break.

And looking at some of the singles matches, at the point where I think it was Meg [Kowalski] who had just about tied it up to start the tiebreaker and Vivian [Wolff] had won her set and Kat [Katarina Jokic] had won her set and Christofi [Elena] was in the middle part of her second set, it was like 3-all, that wouldve been a nice opportunity for us to get some things going. Again, credit Stanford, we were unable to do that.

On any surprises with the individual match results:
I felt like the doubles point would be close and it was. Playing in a national championship final, they should all be great matches. I think that as coaches you look for ways you can win on each court and certain things you can do and that can happen. At the same time, theyre obviously trying to do the same thing. I dont think anyone ever gets to the national championship match and goes, Oh, clearly we can win this spot, or theyre better than us here. I just feel like youve got to go play the match and bring it, see how it plays out.

On playing a team with such a winning tradition in Stanford:
You just keep working and keep recruiting and keep training. You have to learn from the experience of being here and look forward to next year. Try to get into another final championship match and get a W. Now our record is 2-2 against them in the finals of the NCAAs. Theyve won 20 in their program and have had a lot of huge success. What theyve done is amazing and youve got to give them hats off to that. At the same time, I cant really control that. I can only control what were trying to do.

Obviously, weve had quite a bit of good success throughout the years. This team now has played in the finals of the NCAAs over four different decades. Were looking forward to next year already. I think that weve got a great shot at being right back in this thing, as do they always, of course. A lot of work needs to happen between now and then, I think that this has been a huge year in our program and a huge step in the right direction. I really feel like were going to hurt bad tonight but at some point in time here real soon were going to realize its been a hell of a year and the future is really bright.

#3 Stanford 4, #1 Georgia 0
May 19, 2019 at Orlando, Fla. (USTA National Campus)
Singles Competition
1. #2 Katarina Jokic (UGA) vs. #24 Michaela Gordon (STAN) 7-5, *3-2 (40/40), unfinished
2. #29 Melissa Lord (STAN) def. #19 Marta Gonzalez (UGA) 6-2, 6-4
3. #66 Caroline Lampl (STAN) def. #69 Lourdes Carle (UGA) 6-2, 6-4
4. #72 Vivian Wolff (UGA) vs. #44 Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) 7-5, *3-3 (15/30), unfinished
5. #108 Janice Shin (STAN) def. Elena Christofi (UGA) 6-2, 6-4
6. #107 Emma Higuchi (STAN) vs. Meg Kowalski (UGA) 7-6 (7-3), *0-2 (30/15), unfinished
Doubles Competition
1. #28 Lourdes Carle/Katarina Jokic (UGA) def. #19 Kimberly Yee/Caroline Lampl (STAN) 6-1
2. #29 Michaela Gordon/Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) def. Elena Christofi/Vivian Wolff (UGA) 7-5
3. Janice Shin/Melissa Lord (STAN) def. Marta Gonzalez/Meg Kowalski (UGA) 6-3
Match Notes:
Stanford 28-1; National ranking #3
Georgia 28-2; National ranking #1
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (3,2,5)
T-2:42

 

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Singles:
1) Katarina Jokic (GEORGIA)
2) Melissa Lord (STANFORD)*
3) Sara Daavettila (NORTH CAROLINA)
4) Vivian Wolff (GEORGIA)
5) Janice Shin (STANFORD)
6) Meg Kowalksi (GEORGIA)

Doubles:
1) Katarina Jokic / Lourdes Carle (GEORGIA)
2) Emily Arbuthnott / Michaela Gordon (STANFORD)
3) Melissa Lord / Janice Shin (STANFORD)

Most Outstanding Player:
Melissa Lord (STANFORD)