TUCSON, Ariz.--- Briar Preston and Shayne Austin pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the college tennis season thus far, as they took down the No. 2 doubles tandem in the country in Taylor Davidson and Carol Zhao 8-6, but unfortunately No. 13 Stanford was able to hang on for the 6-1 victory over No. 38 Arizona, Saturday out at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center.
The Wildcats (13-3, 3-2 Pac-12) competed well in doubles play, as Stanford's No. 14 Caroline Doyle and Ellen Tsay defeated Lauren Marker and Inge Hendrikx 8-2 on court two, but UA quickly responded, as Preston and Austin grinded out their dramatic victory on court one to improve to a team-best 10-3 as a doubles tandem this year. The duo has now taken down the nation's No. 5 and No. 2 doubles teams in back-to-back days.
It all came down to court three for the doubles point, but Stanford's tandem of Krista Hardebeck and Lindsey Kostas was able to grind out a dramatic 8-6 victory over Laura Oldham and Devin Chypyha to clinch the point.
Stanford kept the positive momentum rolling in singles play, as it took a 2-0 lead after No. 16 Taylor Davidson defeated No. 114 Briar Preston (14-6, 11-4 Dual) 6-1, 6-1 on court two.
Krista Hardebeck then took down Devin Chypyha (15-7, 13-2 Dual) 6-1, 6-3 from the No. 4 position to extend the advantage to 3-0.
The Cardinal clinched the match on court one, as No. 4 Carol Zhao bested No. 80 Lauren Marker (19-5, 14-2 Dual) 6-4, 6-1 on court one to go up 4-0.
Inge Hendrikx (19-7, 12-3 Dual) eventually secured a convincing straight-set 6-3, 6-3 win over Lindsey Kostas on court six to put Arizona on the board.
Stanford went on to claim victories on courts three and five to bring the final to 6-1.
"Honestly I'm not even really going to talk to the team a lot about today," said head coach Vicky Maes. "We're going to focus more on what we did yesterday against Cal and really what we've done all season.”
"The reason I love this conference is the fact that we get to play against some of the best competition in the country and if you're a competitor that's what you want. You want to play against the best. We've done too many positive things this year to dwell on today too much. We've worked hard and I've asked a lot of these girls and they have followed through tremendously."
The Wildcats will get back at it next weekend when they take on top-ranked USC, Friday at 1:30 pm PT out at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center.
#13 Stanford 6 (11-4, 4-2 Pac-12), #38 Arizona 1 (13-3, 3-2 Pac-12)
SINGLES
1. #4 Carol Zhao (STAN) def. #80 Lauren Marker (ARIZ) 6-4, 6-1
2. #16 Taylor Davidson (STAN) def. #114 Briar Preston (ARIZ) 6-1, 6-1
3. #27 Caroline Doyle (STAN) def. Laura Oldham (ARIZ) 6-2, 6-1
4. Krista Hardebeck (STAN) def. Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) 6-1, 6-3
5. #91 Ellen Tsay (STAN) def. Shayne Austin (ARIZ) 6-2, 6-4
6. Inge Hendrikx (ARIZ) def. Lindsey Kostas (STAN) 6-3, 6-3
Order of Finish: 2,4,1*,3,5,6
*Clinching point
DOUBLES
1. Briar Preston/Shayne Austin (ARIZ) def. #2 Taylor Davidson/Carol Zhao (STAN) 8-6
2. #14 Caroline Doyle/Ellen Tsay (STAN) def. Lauren Marker/Inge Hendrikx (ARIZ) 8-2
3. Krista Hardebeck/Lindsey Kostas (STAN) def. Laura Oldham/Devin Chypyha (ARIZ) 8-6
Order of Finish: 2,1,3
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