University Southern California Trojans
Women of Troy Challenge Top-10 Opponents
April 03, 2000 | Women's Tennis
April 3, 2000
This Week -- The 7th-ranked USC women's tennis team (13-4, 2-2 Pac-10) is coming off a difficult 6-3 loss to Pac-10 rival UCLA last Saturday, after defeating Harvard, 7-1, earlier in the week. This week, the Women of Troy will look to challenge top-10 opponents No. 6 Cal and No. 1 Stanford. USC will host the Golden Bears on Friday (April 7) at 1:30 p.m., and the Cardinal on Saturday (April 8) at noon.
USC vs. Cal -- USC and Cal will meet for the 38th time in program history. The Women of Troy own a 20-17 series advantage after the two teams split victories last season. USC defeated Cal at home, 5-4, after having lost on the road, 6-3. With a 12-4 overall record this season, Cal comes off a 7-2 victory over San Diego State and 5-4 loss to Pepperdine on March 24 and 26.
USC vs. Stanford -- Since 1977, Stanford and USC have met 55 times. In the series, the Cardinal owns a 38-17 record against the Trojans. Stanford is one of only five teams to post a winning record against USC. Last season, the Trojans lost both matches against the Cardinal by scores of 5-1 and 6-1. Top-ranked Stanford, now 18-0 overall, carries a 35-match win streak into this week's matches. Most recently, Stanford defeated #5 Pepperdine, 6-0, and Loyola Marymount, 9-0.
The Trojans' Last Outing -- USC fell to No. 8 UCLA, 6-3, on Saturday (April 1), marking its second loss to Bruins this season. UCLA claimed four of six singles matches, needing only one doubles victory to clinch the dual match. USC held of UCLA by posting a win in the No. 1 doubles spot as Tiffany Brymer and Kara Warkentin upset ninth-ranked Amanda Basica and Sara Walker, 8-4. Despite the Trojans' win, the Bruins clinched the match on the No. 2 doubles court.
On Wednesday, USC recorded a near sweep over Harvard, 7-1, posting four singles wins in straight sets at the No. 2, 3, 4 and 5 spots. To complete singles play, Krissy Hamilton-Heinberg needed a come-from-behind effort to defeat Sarah McGinty, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Harvard earned its only point in the last match of the afternoon when Bajin and Ghazal defeated Tiffany Brymer and Kara Warkentin in a close 9-7 match.
USC News & Notes -- Senior Jacqui Boyd owns the team's longest win streak of the season in dual matches, having won 11-straight singles matches between Jan. 18 and Feb. 26... USC advanced to the USTA/ITA championship quarterfinals for the first time since 1997... The Women of Troy are 2-4 against top-25 opponents this season... Entering the spring schedule, three of the four Trojans' ranked in the ITA fall rankings were freshman.
Head Coach Richard Gallien -- Richard Gallien enters his fifth season at the helm of the USC women's tennis program. After guiding the 1999 Trojans to a 21-9 overall record, and a quarterfinal appearance at the NCAAs, he was named Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year. Gallien began his career at Pepperdine, coaching the men's team for three years, before joining the Trojan family. Over the last eight years, he has compiled a 135-73 (.649) overall record and his teams have made four appearances in the NCAA tournament.
Next Up -- The Women of Troy will host two Pac-10 matches next week: Washington State on Friday, April 14, at 1:30 p.m. and Washington on Saturday, April 15, at noon.
