OJAI, Calif. - Facing a post-doubles deficit against UCLA for the second time this season, Stanford did not panic. Instead, the Cardinal applied pressure.
The result this time was a Pac-12 Championships title, with the Cardinal prevailing 4-2 on Saturday afternoon to defend its tournament crown. Stanford also captured its third straight conference title overall, accomplishing the feat for the first time since 2010-12.
Displaying the same type of resolve required to skyrocket 30 spots in the national rankings since the first week of March, Stanford continues to steamroll into the postseason. Riding a 14-match winning streak as arguably the hottest team in the country, the Cardinal (18-3, 9-0 Pac-12) locked up the Pac-12's automatic NCAA bid and finds itself predictably clicking when it matters most.
It would have been difficult (maybe?) to envision this type of reversal when Stanford checked in at No. 46 – its lowest position in school history – in the national rankings prior to the start of conference play.
But the Cardinal got healthy, maintained its focus, kept grinding and blitzed through Pac-12 play undefeated. For weeks, it even appeared Stanford may narrowly miss out on hosting NCAA first and second rounds for the first time in school history, but that would seem unlikely after a sweep of UCLA.
The Cardinal's signature win of the regular season was a 4-3 home victory over UCLA back on March 13. The rematch in Saturday's Pac-12 final quickly resembled a repeat, with the Bruins securing a hard-fought doubles point on the strength of a 7-6 (7) victory at the top spot of the lineup.
Melissa Lord, who missed the first meeting while she was sidelined with a shoulder injury, immediately made her presence felt with a 6-1, 7-5 victory at the No. 2 spot and knotting the match at 1-1.
Emma Higuchi then rattled off her 12th consecutive win, edging Alaina Miller 6-4, 7-6 (5) at the No. 6 spot.
UCLA tied the match at 2-2 when Ena Shibahara outlasted Michaela Gordon 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 in a battle of top-20 players at No. 1. It was a rematch of the first meeting, when Gordon won in three sets.
Stanford increased its lead to 3-2 following a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) victory from Caroline Lampl over Terri Fleming on court three.
With two opportunities to clinch, Emily Arbuthnott provided her team-best sixth clincher of the season. Arbuthnott defeated Abi Altick 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 4 position, improving to 5-1 this season and 11-1 over her career in three-setters.
Stanford will learn its postseason fate on Tuesday, May 1, during the NCAA Tournament selection show at 2 p.m. PT.
The winningest program in collegiate history with 19 national championships (18 NCAA, 1 AIAW), Stanford picked up win No. 1,000 in program history on Friday afternoon, blanking No. 48 Washington State 4-0 in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Championships.
No. 16 Stanford 4, No. 13 UCLA 2
DOUBLES
1) No. 6 Fleming/Hart (UCLA) d. No. 2 Arbuthnott/Gordon (STAN) 7-6 (7)
2) No. 78 Lampl/Kimberly Yee (STAN) d. No. 56 Gabby Andrews/Broomfield (UCLA) 6-4
3) Miller/Shibahara (UCLA) d. Lord/Shin (STAN) 6-4
Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1
SINGLES
1) No. 14 Erin Shibahara (UCLA) d. No. 16 Michaela Gordon (STAN) 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
2) No. 68 Melissa Lord (STAN) d. No. 30 Jada Hart (UCLA) 6-1, 7-5
3) No. 94 Caroline Lampl (STAN) d. Terri Fleming (UCLA) 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4)
4) No. 51 Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) d. No. 59 Abi Altick (UCLA) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
5) No. 95 Janice Shin (STAN) led Ayan Broomfield (UCLA) 7-5, 6-6, unfinished
6) No. 109 Emma Higuchi (STAN) d. No. 117 Alaina Miller (UCLA) 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Order of Finish: 2, 6, 1, 3, 4