CHICAGO - Emma Higuchi's 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory fueled No. 1 Stanford to a 4-3 victory over No. 10 Michigan on Friday afternoon in the opening round of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
Trailing 4-2 in the third set, Higuchi rattled off four straight games to convert her eighth career clincher and improve to 7-1 over her career in three-setters.
Participating in the ITA National Team Indoor Championships for the second straight season following an eight-year hiatus, Stanford (4-0) knew it would be tested after easily sweeping its first three matches at home.
The Cardinal started fast by capturing the doubles point for a 1-0 lead, winning at the Nos. 1 and 3 spots.
Tied 1-1, Stanford collected back-to-back wins from Angelica Blake (7-5, 6-3) at No. 3 and Emily Arbuthnott (6-2, 7-5) at No. 2, increasing its lead to 3-1.
Michigan (3-2) responded with a pair of victories in the lower half of the lineup, evening the match at 3-3.
That left everything riding on Higuchi, who relied on her experience and clutch play to reverse a 4-2 deficit.
Stanford next faces No. 22 Georgia Tech on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 1:30 p.m. PT.
No. 1 Stanford 4, No. 10 Michigan 3
DOUBLES
1) No. 25 Arbuthnott/Blake (STAN) d. Lommer/Pairone (MICH) 7-5
2) Gordon/Shin (STAN) led Craciun/Jones (MICH) 6-5, unfinished
3) No. 49 Choy/Higuchi (STAN) d. Hammond/Lorenzini (MICH) 6-4
Order of Finish: 3, 1
SINGLES
1) No. 35 Giulia Pairone (MICH) d. No. 6 Michaela Gordon (STAN) 6-0, 6-1
2) Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) d. No. 51 Andrea Cerdan (MICH) 6-2, 7-5
3) No. 77 Angelica Blake (STAN) d. Nicole Hammond (MICH) 7-5, 6-3
4) No. 94 Alyvia Jones (MICH) d. No. 123 Janice Shin (STAN) 6-3, 6-2
5) Chiara Lommer (MICH) d. Sara Choy (STAN) 6-4, 6-2
6) Emma Higuchi (STAN) d. Anca Craciun (MICH) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 5, 4, 6