SEATTLE - Emily Arbuthnott's three-set clincher powered No. 1 Stanford to a 4-3 victory over No. 6 Texas on Sunday morning in the quarterfinal round of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
After recording four consecutive shutouts to open the season, Stanford (5-0) was tested throughout despite winning the doubles point and leading 3-2.
The clutch effort was a familiar outcome for Arbuthnott, who improved to 17-3 all-time in three-setters while providing her 20th career clincher, five of which have come in NCAA competition.
Stanford's next opponent will be No. 5 Georgia, although the tournament format is being modified after Saturday's schedule of play was cancelled due to inclement weather in the Seattle area.
After capturing the doubles point for a 1-0 lead, Caroline Lampl tacked on another point with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at the No. 3 spot.
Texas (4-2) responded with back-to-back points before Michaela Gordon delivered a 6-4, 6-3 win at the top spot of the lineup to put Stanford in front 3-2.
The Longhorns answered with another victory to make it 3-3 before Arbuthnott's clincher.
Stanford is participating in the ITA National Team Indoors for the first time since 2011, when it posted victories over Arkansas, Michigan and North Carolina before defeating Florida in the final. Prior to that, the Cardinal had not captured an indoor tournament title since 2006.
No. 1 Stanford 4, No. 6 Texas 3
DOUBLES
1) No. 11 Lampl/Yee (STAN) d. Fernanda Labrana/Bojana Markovic (TEXAS) 6-2
2) No. 13 Arbuthnott/Gordon (STAN) vs. Anna Turati/Bianca Turati (TEXAS) 5-5, unfinished
3) No. 31 Lord/Niluka Madurawe (STAN) d. Katie Poluta/Tijana Spasojevic (TEXAS) 7-5
Order of Finish: 1, 3
SINGLES
1) No. 23 Michaela Gordon (STAN) d. Bianca Turati (TEXAS) 6-4, 6-3
2) No. 54 Anna Turati (TEXAS) d. No. 46 Melissa Lord (STAN) 6-3, 6-3
3) No. 57 Caroline Lampl (STAN) d. No. 101 Bojana Markovic (TEXAS) 6-1, 6-3
4) No. 14 Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) d. Fernanda Labrana (TEXAS) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1
5) Katie Poluta (TEXAS) d. No. 37 Janice Shin (STAN) 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
6) No. 107 Tijana Spasojevic (TEXAS) d. No. 44 Emma Higuchi (STAN) 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish: 3, 6, 2, 1, 5, 4