BERKELEY, Calif. - Freshman Emily Arbuthnott outlasted senior Maya Jansen 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to lead No. 8 Stanford past No. 16 California 4-3 and help the Cardinal secure an outright regular-season Pac-12 title.
Stanford (18-2, 10-0 Pac-12) has locked up the No. 1 seed in next week's Pac-12 Championships. While the dual-match format is new, the Cardinal will attempt to repeat as conference champions when tournament play gets underway Wednesday.
Saturday's contest was the latest in a long line of Stanford-Cal thrillers. It ended as most others have, with the Cardinal having now won 12 of the last 17 meetings against the Golden Bears (15-4, 8-2 Pac-12).
Arbuthnott delivered her team-best seventh clincher of the season while improving to 4-0 in three-setters.
Stanford captured the doubles point for a 1-0 lead before California took control early in singles play. Denise Starr and Karla Popovic collected a pair of wins at the top of the lineup, giving the Golden Bears a 2-1 advantage.
Emma Higuchi followed with her 18th consecutive win, cruising past Maria Smith 6-4, 6-1 on court six.
California briefly moved ahead 3-2 thanks to a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory from Maegan Manasse at the No. 1 spot.
Two matches remained and Stanford finally seized momentum in both midway through the third set.
Caroline Lampl pulled out her first three-setter of the season at No. 5 to make it 3-3, before Arbuthnott capped the match next door.
The Pac-12 Championships get underway Wednesday in Ojai, California. As the No. 1 seed, Stanford will receive a first-round bye and open play Thursday afternoon.
No. 8 Stanford 4, No. 16 California 3
DOUBLES
1) Jansen/Manasse (CAL) d. Arbuthnott/Davidson (STAN) 6-4
2) No. 40 Doyle/Lord (STAN) d. Hauger/Popovic (CAL) 7-6 (2)
3) Higuchi/Lampl (STAN) d. Alexis Nelson/Starr (CAL) 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
SINGLES
1) No. 52 Maegan Manasse (CAL) d. No. 41 Caroline Doyle (STAN) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4)
2) No. 18 Karla Popovic (CAL) d. No. 23 Melissa Lord (STAN) 6-4, 6-3
3) Denise Starr (CAL) d. No. 53 Taylor Davidson (STAN) 6-4, 6-4
4) No. 86 Caroline Lampl (STAN) d. No. 111 Olivia Hauger (CAL) 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-4
5) No. 122 Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) d. Maya Jansen (CAL) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
6) No. 71 Emma Higuchi (STAN) d. Maria Smith (CAL) 6-4, 6-1
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 6, 1, 4, 5