STANFORD, Calif. - After winning its last four NCAA titles as a No. 8 seed or lower, Stanford flexed its muscle as the No. 3 seed in 2019, routing top-seeded Georgia 4-0 to repeat as NCAA champions for the first time since a three-year stretch from 2004-06.
The most decorated program in college history and the winningest program on The Farm, Stanford has incredibly won 20 of the possible 38 NCAA championships. The Cardinal, which was appearing in its fourth consecutive final, has won 21 national championships overall (20 NCAA, 1 AIAW).
Stanford (28-1, 10-0 Pac-12) closed its season on a 23-match winning streak and avenged its only loss, a 4-3 setback to Georgia back on Feb. 11 in the semifinals of the ITA National Indoor Championships. The Cardinal improved to 50-5 during the month of May since 2010, a stretch that has produced five NCAA titles (2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019).
The Cardinal did it this time around thanks to a dominant lineup that included contributions across the board. Aside from its lineup regulars, Stanford was essentially able to go nine deep on its roster, also plugging in senior Kimberly Yee (No. 1 doubles) and freshmen Niluka Madurawe and Sara Choy (2-1 combined in NCAA singles matches).
The women's tennis title was one of six NCAA championships in 2018-19 for Stanford Athletics, which also claimed titles in women's volleyball, women's swimming and diving, men's gymnastics, women's water polo and men's golf. The six titles matches the NCAA record for an academic year, with the Cardinal also winning six in 1996-97. Stanford concluded the athletic campaign as the all-time leader in NCAA team championships (123), five more than UCLA (118).
Bringing home No. 20.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/f4MUsCB5Dl
— Stanford Women's Tennis (@StanfordWTennis) May 20, 2019
This Time, The FavoriteDespite Stanford's profile as the sport's gold standard, the 2018-19 season marked only the second time over the last 11 years that the Cardinal entered NCAA's seeded higher than No. 5 (Stanford was No. 1 in 2011). Ranked among the nation's top-10 throughout the entire season, Stanford clearly capitalized on its high seeding and the NCAA title was hardly a surprise.
Remarkably, Stanford had won its previous four NCAA championships as a No. 8 seed or lower. In 2018, No. 15 Stanford duplicated its 2016 NCAA title run as the lowest-seeded team to win an NCAA championship. In 2013, Stanford won it all as a No. 12 seed. In 2010, the Cardinal claimed the crown as a No. 8 seed. Since 2010, Stanford has won 22 of its last 25 NCAA matches when seeded lower than its opponent.
Because of its superior singles depth, Stanford was routinely been able to overcome early deficits. The Cardinal lost the doubles point five times this season before rallying to win each match, including NCAA victories against Kansas and Pepperdine. In fact, since 2016, Stanford has won 20 of its last 25 matches in which it loses the doubles point.
Meanwhile, Stanford improved to 159-19 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. This year's NCAA final was the first 4-0 outcome since Florida blanked UCLA 4-0 in 2012. It also marked the Cardinal's first 4-0 victory in a final since shutting out Texas in 2005.
Stanford owns a 1,035-104 overall program record over 45 seasons.
We don't have all the best players. We have all the best competitors. #GoStanford
A post shared by Stanford Women's Tennis (@stanfordwtennis) on May 20, 2019 at 6:34pm PDT
Gordon Gets Her SecondSophomore Michaela Gordon was named an ITA All-American for the second straight season, receiving accolades in singles. Gordon has captured two NCAA team titles in her first two seasons while anchoring the No. 1 position.
Stanford's highest-ranked player at No. 10, Gordon finished the season at 24-11 overall 15-5 in duals. Named the Pac-12 Singles Player of the Year, Gordon won eight of her last 10 matches to close out the year and posted a 13-9 record against nationally-ranked opponents while playing all but three of her contests at the No. 1 spot. Gordon, who was also 13-2 against Pac-12 opponents, reached the second round of the NCAA Singles Championships.
In doubles, Gordon paired with junior Emily Arbuthnott as the Cardinal's No. 2 team with a 22-8 overall record and 17-4 mark in duals.
Gordon also enjoyed success in the classroom as a Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention pick.
She's an All-American again. #GoStanford
A post shared by Stanford Women's Tennis (@stanfordwtennis) on May 30, 2019 at 7:16pm PDT
Lampl, Lord Conclude Stellar CareersStanford's senior class of Caroline Lampl, Melissa Lord, Naomie Rosenberg, Elizabeth Yao and Kimberly Yee departs The Farm with some staggering accolades: three NCAA championships, four Pac-12 titles, a 98-12 overall record, a 38-1 Pac-12 record and a 50-2 record in home matches at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Front and center were Lampl and Lord, with both regularly competing in singles and doubles.
A three-time All-Pac-12 performer, Lampl saved her best season for last, compiling a 31-7 record as a senior. Included in the mix was a career-high 23-match winning streak that spanned Jan. 18-May 18, representing the longest streak by a Cardinal player since Kristie Ahn (24) in 2011. Lampl finished with a record of 107-26 overall and her 76 career dual wins rank 21st in school history.
An All-American in 2017 and three-time All-Pac-12 recipient, Lord was equally steady with a 28-10 record in her final season, playing all but four matches at the No. 2 spot. Lord, who finished with a career singles record of 101-33 overall, solidified her reputation as one of the most clutch postseason players, chalking up a 20-1 record in NCAA team competition. Lord's most memorable postseason win was the 2018 NCAA title clincher against Vanderbilt.
Why it's all worth it.#GoStanford pic.twitter.com/kJTFXdULet
— Stanford Women's Tennis (@StanfordWTennis) May 20, 2019
Owned Ojai, Again
Stanford captured its fourth straight Pac-12 title, overcoming an early doubles deficit to outlast UCLA 4-2 for the conference crown.
Despite trailing 1-0 after losing the doubles point, and falling behind again at 2-1, the Cardinal stormed back in singles and completed the comeback when Emily Arbuthnott edged Alaina Miller 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-0 at the No. 4 spot. Ironically, it marked the fifth consecutive meeting in the series in which the Bruins had won the doubles point before Arbuthnott ultimately clinched a Stanford win.
Stanford is enjoying its longest conference title stretch a 21-year grip on the Pac-10 from 1988-2008.
Since moving to a team format in 2017, the Cardinal has won all three Pac-12 crowns, having defeated UCLA in the final in back-to-back seasons.
Stanford's Pac-12 dominance was not limited to the postseason. The Cardinal has 37 straight regular-season conference matches dating back to March 5, 2016, when it lost 4-3 at Arizona State.
Stop us if you've heard this one: UCLA wins the doubles point before @emilyarbuthnott clinches a comeback.
— Stanford Women's Tennis (@StanfordWTennis) April 27, 2019
It's now happened in five straight matches. #GoStanford https://t.co/Ba1kiyJ1qi
Coaching LegendsStanford's national championship success is becoming more evenly split among its coaching legends: Frank Brennan and Lele Forood.
Brennan finished 510-50 in 21 seasons (1980-2000) as the winningest coach in program history. Brennan guided the Cardinal to 10 NCAA titles, including six in a row from 1986-91. In addition to leading Stanford to 13 consecutive Pac-10 titles, Brennan mentored 34 All-Americans, nine NCAA singles champions and four NCAA doubles champions.
Forood is now 466-44 in 19 seasons (2001-present), having led the Cardinal to 10 NCAA titles and a three-year undefeated stretch from 2004-06. In addition to directing Stanford to 15 conference titles, Forood has coached 25 All-Americans, five NCAA singles champions and five NCAA doubles champions.
2??0?? national championships in 4??5?? seasons as a program. How? Link in bio. #GoStanford
A post shared by Stanford Women's Tennis (@stanfordwtennis) on May 19, 2019 at 8:53am PDT
Junior Emily Arbuthnott
- All-Pac-12 Second Team
- CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team
- Pac-12 All-Academic First Team
- NCAA All-Tournament Team (No. 2 doubles)
- Pac-12 Player of the Week (Feb. 12) Sophomore Michaela Gordon
- ITA All-American in singles
- Pac-12 Singles Player of the Year, Stanford's first recipient since 2012
- All-Pac-12 First Team
- Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention
- NCAA All-Tournament Team (No. 2 doubles) Junior Emma Higuchi
- Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention Senior Caroline Lampl
- All-Pac-12 First Team
- Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention Senior Melissa Lord
- All-Pac-12 First Team
- Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention
- NCAA Most Outstanding Player
- NCAA All-Tournament Team (No. 2 singles, No. 3 doubles)
- Pac-12 Player of the Week (Feb. 26, April 9) Sophomore Janice Shin
- Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention
- NCAA All-Tournament Team (No. 5 singles, No. 3 doubles)