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W. tennis downs UW,

Starrett injures back

By Chris Isidro

Rain came too late to save Washington as the UCLA women's tennis team cruised to a 7-2 victory Saturday at the Los Angeles Tennis Center.

Inclement weather washed out Sunday's match against Pepperdine, but the gray clouds did not stop the No. 4 Bruins (12-2) from recording their third victory in three meetings with the Huskies.

Washington, boasting just one player in the top 100, was outmanned at every position. The Bruins dominated at the top, winning their three center court matches in straight sets. Freshman Stephanie Chi dominated in her third appearance on center court, defeating Kori Sosnowy 6-1, 6-2 in the No. 3 position.

On the back courts, Washington fared a little better taking their only singles point on Court 4. Susie Starrett aggravated a sore back early in her match against Washington's Erica Stoloff forcing the senior Bruin to retire in the second set.

"It was sore during practice (on Friday)," Starrett said. "Today, I was up 1-0, I went for a serve and I felt a sharp pain that went down my back and my hip."

Starrett held tough in the first set, but No. 75 Stoloff exploited the Bruin's mobility problems and moved her shots all over the baseline. After Stoloff took the first set 7-5, UCLA assistant coach Stella Sampras pulled the plug on the match.

UCLA's Diana Spadea began to regain her All-American form after suffering an early season injury, blowing past Keidi Buchanan 6-0, 6-1.

Bruin Anicia Mendez reeled in the first nine games against Kari Luna, but the Husky did not fold coming back, down 0-3, to force a tie break before losing 6-0, 7-6 (7-3).