W. Tennis sweeps California road trip

The Penn women's tennis team stormed through California last week, battling UC Santa Barbara (ranked 75th nationally), UC Irvine, and fellow easterner Boston College. And though rain cancelled a planned match against Loyola Marymount, the Quakers certainly can't complain about returning to campus with three new checks in the 'W' column. Penn, now ranked 68th in the country, defeated UCSB 7-2 and squeezed by both Irvine and BC, each by a score of 5-4. Overall, the team improved to an impressive 9-1. Against the Gauchos, the Quakers dominated, taking five of the six singles matches and two of the three doubles. Santa Barbara's only victories came at the top as No. 1 Anastasia Pozdniakova fell short in singles play, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, and Penn's No. 1 pair of Julia Feldman and Lanka Beranova dropped their doubles match 8-6. "My game wasn't really at its best," Pozdniakova said. "It was a tough match but I got a really good look at what I need to improve for the Ivy League." Tri-captains Feldman and Karen Ridley, sophomores Beranova and Shubha Srinivasan and freshman Louani Bascara all recorded singles wins, clinching the victory for the Quakers. The doubles wins of Ridley and Pozdniakova in the No. 2 spot and that of Elana Gold and Bascara at No. 3 made the victory all the more convincing. "I think we were expecting good competition and we got that but we were definitely the better team. Everyone played well and was totally consistent," senior Brooke Herman said. The tri-captain was unfortunately able to play in only one match during the trip as she was sidelined by a recurring injury to her wrist. A cortisone shot allowed her to compete in the No. 3 doubles match against Irvine. "I overused my wrist at the Princeton Invitational so I hadn't been able to play in a couple of weeks. But I did want to play in every match possible," Herman said. In the Quakers' meeting with Irvine, they again ran into trouble at the No. 1 spot. Junior Pozdniakova fell 6-2, 6-1 and the Bernova/Feldman pair were denied 8-6. Penn finished strong however, as Ridley, Srinivasan, Gold and Beranova all recorded singles wins to finish the meeting 5-4. Ironically, the unexpected and hastily scheduled match versus Boston College proved to be the biggest confidence builder. The Eagles were the strongest team of the three Penn faced and the match provided the Red and Blue with a win over a powerful eastern opponent. "BC is definitely better than the other teams and it gives us a lot of confidence that we pulled off the win," said senior tri-captain Karen Ridley, winner of two singles and three doubles matches during the trip. "It was a great win for us, and it's especially important for the [national] rankings," junior Elana Gold said. The trip also contributed a lot to the team's overall unity, in addition to improving their record. "We had a great time in California and really bonded well," Herman said. "The whole team feels close and confident and that camaraderie translates so well on the court. We're having so much fun off the court we want to motivate and cheer for each other on the court."