USC
Utah
No. 1 USC Women Oust Utah In 7-0 Sweep
April 10, 2015 | Women's Tennis
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- The top-ranked USC women's tennis team pounded out a swift shutout of visiting No. 59 Utah in following up a decisive doubles point with a string of straight-set singles wins to complete the 7-0 sweep. Three Women of Troy were vying for the match-clincher at the same time, but it was freshman Gabby Smith who finished off her Utah opponent first to secure USC's ninth consecutive win. The Trojans are now 19-2 overall and a perfect 8-0 in Pac-12 play.
The Trojans ripped their way through to the early advantage with a quick trip through doubles. At the top spot, USC's #24 Giuliana Olmos and Zoë Scandalis issued a prompt 8-2 win over Utah's top guns, #46 Bekerova/Pletcher. Soon after, USC's freshman duo of Gabby Smith and Madison Westby zipped through to an 8-4 win on court two, and the doubles point was securely in Trojan hands, leaving court three's action suspended.
USC's singles domination was kickstarted by #75 freshman Meredith Xepoleas, whose work on court five drummed up a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Utah's Luisa Gerstner Da Rosa to pin up a 2-0 lead for the Trojans. Up at the top spot, USC's #22 Sabrina Santamaria was a force to reckon with as well. She tore through to a 6-3, 6-2 win over Utah's #57 Tereza Bekerova, and the Trojans were poised for victory, up 3-0 on the Utes.
In a mad scramble for the clincher, at one point there were three different Women of Troy holding match point at the same time. It would be #72 freshman Gabby Smith who closed out first, though, as she finished off a 6-0, 6-4 win over Margo Pletcher on court four to notch a 4-0 advantage for the Trojans. Next, #13 Giuliana Olmos got her feet back under her to wrap up a 7-5, 6-1 win over Sarah Richter at the No. 2 spot, and then Gabriella DeSimone righted the ship on court six to top Alexia Petrovic with a 6-2, 6-4 decision that had the Trojans ahead 6-0. The remaining action took place on court three, where USC's #58 Zoë Scandalis was steadily creating more distance between herself and Jena Cheng. Scandalis would close down the day's event with a 6-3, 6-4 win, and USC's 7-0 sweep was in the books.
The Trojans will return to action tomorrow (April 11) for a noon showdown against Colorado. Before the match begins, USC will honor its four graduating seniors: Gabriella DeSimone, Sabrina Santamaria, Zoë Scandalis and Casey Reede in a Senior Day celebration ceremony.
#1 USC 7, #59 Utah 0
April 10, 2014 - Marks Stadium (Los Angeles, Calif.)
DOUBLES
(1) #24 Olmos/Scandalis (USC) def. #46 Bekerova/Pletcher (UTAH) - 8-2
(2) Smith/Westby (USC0 def. Cheng/Richter (UTAH) - 8-4
(3) DeSimone/Santamaria (USC) vs. Da Rosa/Najera-Salas (UTAH) - 7-3 susp.
USC wins doubles point.
Order of finish: 1, 2
SINGLES
(1) #22 Sabrina Sabrina (USC) def. #57 Tereza Bekerova (UTAH) - 6-3, 6-2
(2) #13 Giuliana Olmos (USC) def. Sarah Richter (UTAH) - 7-5, 6-1
(3) #58 Zoë Scandalis (USC) def. Jena Cheng (UTAH) - 6-3, 6-4
(4) #72 Gabby Smith (USC) def. Margo Pletcher (UTAH) - 6-0, 6-4*
(5) #75 Meredith Xepoleas (USC) def. Luisa Gerstner Da Rosa (UTAH) - 6-1, 6-2
(6) Gabriella DeSimone (USC) def. Alexia Petrovic (UTAH) - 6-2, 6-4
Order of finish: 5, 1, 4*, 2, 6, 3
Players Mentioned
