The California women’s tennis team completed the Cal Winter Invitational on Sunday, securing victories in all four of its singles matches and winning three doubles matches at the Hellman Tennis Complex in Berkeley.
Freshmen Mille Johanna Moerk and Laura Cilekova earned straight-set wins in singles play. Sophomore Anya Murthy came from behind to defeat Cal Poly’s Candela Aparisi 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, while junior Tiziana-Marie Schomburg beat Kennedy Buntrock 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. In doubles competition, Cilekova and junior Mao Mushika, ranked No. 80 nationally, defeated Aparisi and Natalie Lynch of Cal Poly in a tiebreaker.
“We were excited to see the Bears back in action after the winter break,” said assistant coach Stephanie Kusano Wallace. “It was important for the team to play competitive matches and try out new doubles combinations to ensure a confident start to the season. We’re thankful to the Cal community and our fans who always come out to support the Bears, and we’re looking to carry this momentum into the ITA Kickoff next weekend in Texas.”
The invitational serves as preparation for upcoming dual-match competitions. The Golden Bears will begin their dual-match season during ITA Kickoff Weekend hosted by Texas. As part of that event, they will face Baylor in Austin on Saturday; the winner will advance to play either Texas or Arizona for a chance at competing in February’s ITA National Team Indoor Championship.
Singles match results included Moerk defeating Sarah MacCallum (Cal Poly) 7-5, 6-3; Cilekova over Jessica MacCallum (Cal Poly) 7-5, 6-4; Murthy beating Aparisi (Cal Poly) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4; and Schomburg topping Buntrock (Cal Poly) 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
In doubles action at Hellman Tennis Complex: Kennedy Buntrok/Jessica MacCallum (Cal Poly) defeated Greta Greco Lucchina/Naomi Xu (Cal), while Cilekova/Mushika won against Aparisi/Lynch (Cal Poly). Other Cal pairs also secured victories.
Further updates about California women’s tennis can be found through their official social media channels on X (@CalWomensTennis), Instagram (@CalWomensTennis), and Facebook (/CalWomensTennis).
