STANFORD, Calif. – No. 8 California edged No. 7 Stanford 4-3 on Sunday afternoon in the latest chapter of the Big Slam at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Stanford (7-2, 0-0 Pac-12) entered the match having won nine of the last 11 meetings, but California (7-2, 0-0 Pac-12) had a little more firepower this time around. Sunday's contest, which was televised on Pac-12 Networks, goes in the books as a nonconference dual as only the April 18 rematch in Berkeley counts in the Pac-12 standings.
The Golden Bears captured the doubles point to grab a 1-0 lead, collecting the clincher on court three where Lynn Chi and Karla Popovic defeated Krista Hardebeck and Lindsey Kostas.
Ellen Tsay's 6-1, 6-1 victory over Popovic at the No. 5 position evened the match at 1-1, but California proceeded to pick up two more victories at the Nos. 2 and 4 spots. Klara Fabikova's 6-1, 6-4 win over Taylor Davidson on court two was especially rare, with Davidson falling for the first time in eight dual matches.
Leading 3-1, Carol Zhao kept Stanford within striking distance following a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory over Maegan Manasse at the top spot of the lineup. It was a battle of two of the nation's top-four players, with Manasse ranked No. 2 and Zhao No. 4.
The Golden Bears clinched the match at the No. 6 spot, where Cecilia Estlander outlasted Kostas 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Caroline Doyle's 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-2 win over Denise Starr at No. 2 accounted for Stanford's third point.
The Cardinal next hosts Colorado on Friday, March 6, at 1:30 p.m. PT.
No. 8 California 4, No. 7 Stanford 3
DOUBLES
1) No. 3 Davidson/Zhao (STAN) d. No. 4 Manasse/Starr (CAL) 8-4
2) No. 12 Fabikova/Susanyi (CAL) d. No. 10 Doyle/Tsay (STAN) 8-3
3) Lynn Chi/Popovic (CAL) d. Hardebeck/Kostas (STAN) 8-3
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
SINGLES
1) No. 4 Carol Zhao (STAN) d. No. 2 Maegen Manasse (CAL) 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6)
2) No. 42 Klara Fabikova (CAL) d. No. 13 Taylor Davidson (STAN) 6-1, 6-4
3) No. 22 Caroline Doyle (STAN) d. No. 61 Denise Starr (CAL) 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-2
4) No. 24 Zsofi Susanyi (CAL) d. Krista Hardebeck (STAN) 6-4, 6-4
5) No. 118 Ellen Tsay (STAN) d. No. 41 Karla Popovic (CAL) 6-1, 6-1
6) Cecilia Estlander (CAL) d. Lindsey Kostas (STAN) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish: 5, 2, 4, 1, 6, 3