OJAI, Calif. - No. 5 Stanford blanked No. 34 Washington State 4-0 on Thursday afternoon at the Pac-12 Championships, representing the first step to capturing four straight conference crowns.
Winners of 15 in a row, Stanford (20-1, 10-0 Pac-12) produced its 13th shutout while defeating Washington State (19-10, 3-7 Pac-12) for the third time this season, having won the regular-season matchup in addition to a victory during ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
The Cardinal secured a hard-fought doubles point, with Emily Arbuthnott and Michaela Gordon rallying for a 7-6 (7) victory on court two as the difference.
Janice Shin (6-1, 6-2) and Caroline Lampl (7-5, 6-3) put Stanford on the brink of clinching before Emma Higuchi made it official with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 triumph at the No. 6 spot.
Stanford next faces No. 15 USC on Friday in the semifinals at 12 p.m.
Stanford is seeking a fourth straight conference title, which would be its longest stretch since a 21-year stranglehold on the Pac-10 from 1988-2008, with the final season resulting in a share of the crown with UCLA.
No. 5 Stanford 4, No. 34 Washington State 0
DOUBLES
1) No. 41 Mylonas/Sato (WSU) d. No. 14 Lampl/Kimberly Yee (STAN) 6-3
2) No. 22 Arbuthnott/Gordon (STAN) d. Ates/Yang Lee (WSU) 7-6 (7)
3) No. 51 Lord/Niluka Madurawe (STAN) d. Bayerlova/Miksovska (WSU) 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2
SINGLES
1) No. 24 Michaela Gordon (STAN) led No. 39 Michaela Bayerlova (WSU) 6-4, 3-3, unfinished
2) No. 32 Melissa Lord (STAN) led Hikaru Sato (WSU) 6-1, 5-7, 2-0, unfinished
3) No. 68 Caroline Lampl (STAN) d. Tiffany Mylonas (WSU) 7-5, 6-3
4) No. 46 Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) led Savanna Ly-Nguyen (WSU) 7-5, 5-4, unfinished
5) No. 106 Janice Shin (STAN) d. Aneta Miksovska (WSU) 6-1, 6-2
6) No. 88 Emma Higuchi (STAN) d. Melisa Ates (WSU) 7-6 (5), 6-3
Order of Finish: 5, 3, 6