OJAI, Calif. - Sophomores Taylor Davidson and Carol Zhao collected their second doubles title of the season, taking home the hardware at the Pac-12 Championships on Sunday afternoon.
The nation’s No. 2-ranked duo, Davidson and Zhao pulled out a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Caroline Doyle and Ellen Tsay in an all-Stanford final.
Davidson and Zhao became the eighth Cardinal tandem to capture a conference doubles crown and first since Alice Barnes and Anne Yelsey defeated California’s Suzi Babos and Zsuzsanna Fodor 8-4 in the 2006 Pac-10 final. Barnes won the doubles title in three consecutive seasons, also partnering with Yelsey in 2005 and Erin Burdette in 2004.
Davidson and Zhao claimed their first doubles title of the season at the NCTC Classic in January. The duo also reached the semifinals of the USTA/ITA Northwest Regional Championships in October and earned a runner-up finish at the Riviera ITA All-American Championships in September.
Three weeks ago, Davidson and Zhao climbed to No. 1 in the rankings, becoming the first Cardinal tandem to be ranked No. 1 since Mallory Burdette and Nicole Gibbs enjoyed a two-month stay at the top position in 2012. Davidson and Zhao have compiled a 29-6 overall record and a 13-4 mark in duals heading into the postseason.
With 15 victories over ranked teams, Davidson and Zhao must be considered strong candidates to become Stanford’s first NCAA doubles champions since a three-year run of Cardinal teams from 2010-12.
Further showcasing Stanford’s lineup depth, Doyle and Tsay represented strong competition. Ranked No. 18 in the nation, Doyle and Tsay also have a tournament win to their credit, winning the Freeman Memorial Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev., back in January. Doyle and Tsay have chalked up a 25-8 overall record and are 12-5 in duals at the No. 2 spot.
Stanford will find out its postseason status when the NCAA Tournament selection show airs Tuesday, April 28. The Cardinal is expected to be among the schools chosen to host first and second round matches.
- - - - - - - -
SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION FIRST ROUND
No. 109 Krista Hardebeck (STAN) d. Julyette Steur (COLO) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
No. 41 Zsofi Susanyi (CAL) d. No. 100 Ellen Tsay (STAN) 6-1, 6-1
SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ROUND OF 16
No. 14 Giuliana Olmos (USC) d. No. 109 Krista Hardebeck (STAN) 7-6, 6-2
SINGLES INVITATIONAL DIVISION FIRST ROUND
No. 96 Kaitlin Ray (UCLA) d. Paulette Wolak (STAN) 6-0, 6-1
Terri Fleming (UCLA) d. Nora Tan (STAN) 6-0, 6-0
No. 84 Meredith Xepoleas (USC) d. Lindsey Kostas (STAN) 6-3, 6-4
ADDED MATCHES
Stephanie Lin (CAL) d. Nora Tan (STAN) 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (6)
DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION FIRST ROUND
No. 2 Taylor Davidson/Carol Zhao (STAN) d. No. 57 Nia Rose/Alyssa Tobita (ORE) 8-5
No. 18 Caroline Doyle/Ellen Tsay (STAN) d. Kassidy Jump/Joanna Smith (ASU) 8-3
DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION QUARTERFINALS
No. 2 Taylor Davidson/Carol Zhao (STAN) d. No. 20 Giuliana Olmos/Zoe Scandalis (USC) 8-3
No. 18 Caroline Doyle/Ellen Tsay (STAN) d. No. 27 Shayne Austin/Briar Preston (ARIZ) 8-1
DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION SEMIFINALS
No. 2 Taylor Davidson/Carol Zhao (STAN) d. No. 8 Maegan Manasse/Denise Starr (CAL) withdrew (injury)
No. 18 Caroline Doyle/Ellen Tsay (STAN) d. No. 6 Klara Fabikova/Zsofi Susanyi (CAL) 8-4
DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION FINAL
No. 2 Taylor Davidson/Carol Zhao (STAN) d. No. 18 Caroline Doyle/Ellen Tsay (STAN) 7-5, 6-2
DOUBLES INVITATIONAL DIVISION FIRST ROUND
Alexandra Aiello/Nuria Ormeno Ruiz (COLO) d. Krista Hardebeck/Paulette Wolak (STAN) 8-6
Lindsey Kostas/Nora Tan (STAN) d. Cecilia Estlander/Lyann Hoang (CAL) 8-7 (4)
DOUBLES INVITATIONAL DIVISION QUARTERFINALS
No. 36 Gabrielle DeSimone/Zoe Katz (USC) d. Lindsey Kostas/Nora Tan (STAN) 8-0