The California women’s tennis team won a close match against Virginia Tech on April 5, coming back to secure a 4-3 victory at the Hellman Tennis Complex. Freshmen Mille Johanna Moerk and Laura Cilekova played key roles in the comeback for the No. 23-ranked Golden Bears.
This result brings Cal’s record to 10-5 overall and 7-3 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while Virginia Tech falls to 4-14 (1-9 ACC).
The Golden Bears competed without their usual top singles and doubles player, Johanne Svendsen, who is currently preparing to represent Denmark in Billie Jean King Cup matches this week. Despite this absence, Cal managed to overcome an early deficit after losing the doubles point. Naomi Xu quickly tied the score by winning her singles match when her opponent retired due to injury.
Senior Berta Passola Folch added another point for Cal with a straight-set win before losses on Courts 6 and 2 put the team behind. Cilekova then won her three-set match on Court 3 to even the score at three points each. Moerk clinched the overall victory by winning two tiebreaker sets on Court 4.
“It was a tough battle today to secure another 4-3 win this season,” Cal assistant coach Stephanie Kusano Wallace said. “The Bears must remain committed to embracing pressure and staying in the moment. Great to see Mille out there scrapping to clinch again for her team. We’ve learned a lot of lessons so far, but I’m looking forward to seeing it come together now for end of conference play.”
Cal will finish its regular season with two more ACC matches: hosting Stanford on Tuesday and playing at Southern Methodist University on April 10.
