The UCLA women’s tennis squad hoisted a national championship trophy for the first time in program history after defeating Pacific-10 Conference rival California, 4-0, at the 2008 NCAA Women’s Tennis Championships May 20 at Tulsa’s Michael D. Case Tennis Center.

It was the Bruins’ fifth overall and second straight appearance in the national title match. The win marked UCLA’s 102nd NCAA national championship.

Riza Zalameda, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Senior Player of the Year, one half of the top doubles tandem in the nation and the tournament’s most outstanding player, factored heavily in the victory. After California and UCLA each captured wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, respectively, Zalameda and Tracy Lin claimed a 9-7 victory over the Bears’ top tandem of Susie Babos and Stephanie Kusano to secure the doubles point and an early 1-0 lead in the championship match.

In singles play, Alex McGoodwin bested Bojana Bobusic, 6-4, 6-1, at No. 6 singles and Andrea Remynse downed Claire Ilcinkas, 7-6 (5), 6-2, to extend the UCLA advantage to a commanding 3-0. Zalameda rallied from a set down to defeat Babos, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, at No. 1 singles to clinch the championship for the Bruins.

UCLA head coach Stella Sampras Webster said the squad’s goal was to win the title. “We had everyone coming back from last year so we knew we would be the favorite. This team never stopped believing in themselves. They knew they were the team to beat. Even with the best talent, it is still difficult to win the national championship,” she said.

First-year California coach Amanda Augustus said the Golden Bears fought hard, and she credited UCLA with strong play.

“I thought we were in every match on every count in singles and doubles, which is what I expected,” said Augustus. “We’ve been pretty evenly matched with teams all year. Today it was just going to take whoever had a little more heart and a little more fight. Unfortunately, we didn’t have quite enough today.”

UCLA finished the season with a 24-5 record, while California closed out the year with a 21-6 mark.

Lin and Zalameda, the top-seeded doubles team in the tournament, lived up to the billing as they became the sixth UCLA tandem to capture the doubles title on May 26 with a three-set victory over the second seeded Melanie Gloria and Tinesta Rowe from Fresno State.

The first UCLA doubles team to claim the championship since 2004, Lin and Zalameda defeated Gloria and Rowe, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. The second set was the only set the duo dropped during the tournament.

Said Lin, “They (Melanie Gloria/Tinestra Rowe) were a good team. Rowe is extremely aggressive at the net. They were the only team to take a set from us the entire tournament. In the third set, we were fortunate enough to get an early break and stayed on top of them. Things just went our way today.”

In singles action, Georgia Tech sophomore Amanda McDowell captured the title with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Zuzana Zemenova of Baylor.

After becoming the first Georgia Tech women’s tennis player to advance to the semifinals, the all-American also became the first Yellow Jacket to earn the individual championship on May 26. McDowell closed out the season with a 45-8 singles record.

Zemenova, the 2005 singles champion, earned a berth in the title match after knocking off the top seed, Arkansas’ Aurelija Miseviciute.

Joining Lin and Zalameda on the doubles all-tournament team were the tandems of Marina Cossou and Ilcinkas of California and fellow Bruins McGoodwin and Yasmin Schnack. The singles all-tournament team was composed of UCLA’s Zalameda, Remynse, Georgia Tech’s McDowell, Lenka Broosova and Jelena Stanivuk of Baylor and Anastasia Revzina of Florida.

Team results

Round of 16

Northwestern 4, Fresno St. 1; California 4, Duke 3; Stanford 4, Clemson 0; Baylor 4, Miami (Fla.) 1; Florida 4, Vanderbilt 1; Georgia Tech 4, Texas 2; UCLA 4, Southern California 0; Arkansas 4, Georgia 2.

Quarterfinals

California 4, Northwestern 2; Baylor 4, Stanford 1; Florida 4, Georgia Tech 2; UCLA 4, Arkansas 0.

Semifinals

California 4, Baylor 3; UCLA 4, Florida 2.

Championship match

UCLA 4, California 0

Doubles: No. 1 -- Tracy Lin-Riza Zalameda, UCLA, def. Susie Babos-Stephanie Kusano, California, 9-7; No. 2 --  Marina Cossou-Claire Ilcinkas, California, def. Elizabeth Lumpkin-Stephanie Wetmore, UCLA, 8-4; No. 3 -- Alex McGoodwin-Yasmin Schnack, UCLA, def. Bojana Bobusic-Cristina Visico, California, 8-6.

Singles: No. 1 -- Riza Zalameda, UCLA, def. Susie Babos, California, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; No. 2 -- Tracy Lin, UCLA, vs. Marina Cossou, California (did not finish); No. 3 -- Yasmin Schnack, UCLA, vs. Cristina Visico, California (did not finish); No. 4 -- Andrea Remynse, UCLA, def. Claire Ilcinkas, California, 7-6 (5), 6-2; No. 5 -- Elizabeth Lumpkin, UCLA, vs. Stephanie Kusano, California (did not finish); No. 6 -- Alex McGoodwin, UCLA, def. Bojana Bobusic, California, 6-4, 6-1.

Individual champions

Singles championship: Amanda McDowell, Georgia Tech, def. Zuzana Zemenova, Baylor, 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles championship: Tracey Lin-Riza Zalameda, UCLA, def. Melanie Gloria-Tinesta Rowe, Fresno St., 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

Individual results

Singles

First round: Aurelija Miseviciute, Arkansas, def. Jenni Heinser, San Francisco, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; Taylor Ormond, Baylor, def. Catherine Newman, Vanderbilt, 6-1, 7-5; Laura Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), def. Jessica Nguyen, Stanford, 6-1, 6-3; Gabriela Niculescu, Southern California, def. Katie Rybakova, Florida St., 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(8); Riza Zalameda, UCLA, def. Jennifer Migan, Indiana St., 6-0, 6-4; Carol Salge, Clemson, def. Samantha Murray, Northwestern, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Kristi Miller, Georgia Tech, def. Danielle Steinberg, Arizona, 6-3, 6-3; Claire Ilcinkas, California, def. Csilla Borsanyi, Florida, 6-3, 6-2; Maria Mosolova, Northwestern, def. Kelcy McKenna, Arizona St., 4-6, 6-2, 6-0; Chisako Sugiyama, Michigan, def. Maya Johansson, Georgia Tech, 6-3, 6-4; Sanaz Marand, North Carolina, def. Caitlin Whoriskey, Tennessee, 6-2, 6-1; Katrina Zheltova, Sacramento St., def. Laura Gioia, Furman, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4; Zuzana Zemenova, Baylor, def. Marina Cossou, California, 6-4, 6-1; Kelley Hyndman, Georgia, def. Mallory Voelker, Denver, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (3); Melanie Gloria, Fresno St., def. Kirsten Flower, Georgia Tech, 6-3, 6-0; Andrea Remynse, UCLA, def. Ellah Nze, Duke, 6-4, 6-3; Katarina Tsang, North Carolina, def. Cristina Visico, California, 7-5, 6-3; Tracy Lin, UCLA, def. Georgia Rose, Northwestern, 6-3, 6-4; Gira Schofield, South Carolina, def. Ekaterina Burduli, Washington St., 3-6, 7-5, 6-4; Amanda McDowell, Georgia Tech, def. Amanda Taylor, Vanderbilt, 1-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1; Reka Zsilinszka, Duke, def. Venise Chan, Washington, 6-2, 7-5; Lindsey Nelson, Southern California, def. Megan Falcon, LSU, 6-3, 6-4; Lenka Broosova, Baylor, def. Nadia Abdala, Arizona St., 6-1, 6-0; Hilary Barte, Stanford, def. Elena Gantcheva, UNLV, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0; Kellie Schmitt, Marshall, def. Whitney McCray, Georgia Tech, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5; Megan Moulton-Levy, William & Mary, def. Hannah Grady, Long Beach St., 6-3, 6-2; Lauren Lui, Northwestern, def. Susie Babos, California, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1); Amanda Fink, Southern California, def. Julie Cohen, Florida, 6-4, 6-0; Kelcy Tefft, Notre Dame, def. Yasmin Schnack, UCLA, 7-6 (5), 7-5; Fani Chifchieva, Auburn, def. Beier Ko, Harvard, 6-3, 7-5; Tatsiana Uvarova, Va. Commonwealth, def. Yvette Hyndman, Georgia, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3; Ani Mijacika, Clemson, def. Anastasia Petukhova, Fresno St., 6-3, 6-1.

Second round: Miseviciute, Arkansas, def. Ormond, Baylor, 6-1, 7-5; Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), def. Niculescu, Southern California, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3; Zalameda, UCLA, def. Salge, Clemson, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2; Ilcinkas, California, def. Miller, Georgia Tech, 7-5, 0-6, 6-4; Mosolova, Northwestern, def. Sugiyama, Michigan, 6-3, 6-2; Zheltova, Sacramento St., def. Marand, North Carolina, 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-4; Zemenova, Baylor, def. Hyndman, Georgia, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2; Gloria, Fresno St., def. Remynse, UCLA, 4-3 (injury retire); Lin, UCLA, def. Tsang, North Carolina, 6-2, 6-3; McDowell, Georgia Tech, def. Schofield, South Carolina, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5; Zsilinszka, Duke, def. Nelson, Southern California, 6-2, 7-6 (3); Broosova, Baylor, def. Barte, Stanford, 6-3, 6-2; Moulton-Levy, William & Mary, def. Schmitt, Marshall, 6-2, 6-0; Fink, Southern California, def. Lui, Northwestern, 6-1, 6-0; Chifchieva, Auburn, def. Tefft, Notre Dame, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5; Mijacika, Clemson, def. Uvarova, Va. Commonwealth, 6-0, 6-3.

Round of 16: Miseviciute, Arkansas, def. Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), 7-5, 6-1; Zalameda, UCLA, def. Ilcinkas, California, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4; Mosolova, Northwestern, def. Zheltova, Sacramento St., 6-4, 6-2; Zemenova, Baylor, def. Gloria Fresno St., 6-2, 2-6, 6-3; McDowell, Georgia Tech, def. Lin, UCLA, 6-4, 6-2; Broosova, Baylor, def. Zsilinszka, Duke, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5; Fink, Southern California, def. Moulton-Levy, William & Mary, 6-2, 6-1; Chifchieva, Auburn, def. Mijacika, Clemson, 6-2, 6-4.

Quarterfinals: Miseviciute, Arkansas, def. Zalameda, UCLA, 6-2, 6-3; Zemenova, Baylor, def. Mosolova, Northwestern, 6-4, 6-4; McDowell, Georgia Tech, def. Broosova, Baylor, 6-3, 6-2; Chifchieva, Auburn, def. Fink, Southern California, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-0.

Semifinals: Zemenova Baylor, def. Miseviciute, Arkansas, 7-6 (2), 6-4; McDowell, Georgia Tech, def. Chifchieva, Auburn, 6-3, 6-2.

Championship: McDowell, Georgia Tech, def. Zemenova, Baylor, 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles

First round: Tracey Lin-Riza Zalameda, UCLA, def. Lauren Lui-Georgia Rose, Northwestern, 6-3, 6-4; Romy Farah-Laura Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), def. Amanda Taylor-Courtney Ulery, Vanderbilt, 6-4, 6-1; Liset Brito-Egle Petrauskaite, Florida Int’l, def. Lenka Broosova-Zuzana Zemenova, Baylor, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2; Megan Moulton-Levy-Katarina Zoricic, William & Mary, def. Hilary Barte-Lindsey Burdette, Stanford, 7-6 (3), 6-2; Ani Mijacika-Carol Salge, Clemson, def. Megan Falcon-Mykala Hedberg, LSU, 6-4, 6-3; Vanja Corovic-Marija Milic, Texas, def. Brittany Blalock-Steffi Wong, Cal Poly, 6-4, 6-4; Renata Kucerkova-Anastasia Petukhova, Fresno St., def. Megan Alexander-Marrit Boonstra, Florida, 6-3, 6-4; Alex Haney-Melissa Koning, Auburn, def. Elizabeth Ferris-Emily Kwok, Utah, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3; Susie Babos-Stephanie Kusano, California, def. Elena Gantcheva-Kristina Nedeltcheva, UNLV, 6-3, 6-2; Amanda Fink-Gabriela Niculescu, Southern California, def. Caitlin Whoriskey-Zsofia Zubor, Tennessee, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2; Macall Harkins-Anna Sydorska, TCU, def. Whitney McCray-Kristi Miller, Georgia Tech, 6-1, 7-6 (3); Brook Buck-Kelcy Tefft, Notre Dame, def. Bianca Dulgheru-Sylvia Kosakowski, Pepperdine, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Nika Koukhartchouk-Karen Nijssen, Mississippi, def. Laila Abdala-Nadia Abdala, Arizona St., 5-7, 7-6 (4), 7-5; Amanda Granson-Melissa Mang, Duke, def. Kellie Schmitt-Karolina Soor, Marshall, 6-4, 6-3; Ela Kaluder-Aurelija Miseviciute, Arkansas, def. Kate Kosminskaya-Julia Koulbitskaya, Penn, 6-4, 6-2; Melanie Gloria-Tinesta Rowe, Fresno St., def. Sophie Grabinski-Sanaz Marand, North Carolina, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Round of 16: Lin-Zalameda, UCLA, def. Frah-Vallverdu, Miami (Fla.), 6-3, 6-3; Moulton-Levy-Zoricic, William & Mary, def. Brito-Petrauskaite, Florida Int’l, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3; Mijacika-Salge, Clemson, def. Corovic-Milic, Texas, 6-2, 7-6(5); Kucerkova-Petukhova, Fresno St., def. Haney-Koning, Auburn, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3; Fink-Niculescu, Southern California, 6-3, 7-5; Buck-Tefft, Notre Dame, def. Harkins-Sydorska, TCU, 0-6, 7-5, 6-3; Granson-Mang, Duke, def. Koukhartchouk-Nijssen, Mississippi, 7-5, 6-4; Gloria-Rowe, Fresno St., def. Kaluder-Miseviciute, Arkansas, 6-3, 7-6 (2).

Quarterfinals: Lin-Zalameda, UCLA, def. Moulton-Levy-Zoricic, William & Mary, 7-5, 6-2; Kucerkova-Petukhova, Fresno St., def. Mijacika-Salge, Clemson, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4; Buck-Tefft, Notre Dame, def. Fink-Niculescu, Southern California, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0; Gloria-Rowe, Fresno St., def. Granson-Mang, Duke, 6-2, 6-4.

Semifinals: Lin-Zalameda, UCLA, def. Kucerkova-Petukhova, Fresno St., 6-2, 6-1; Gloria-Rowe, Fresno St., def. Buck-Tefft, Notre Dame, 6-1, 7-5.

Championship: Lin-Zalameda, UCLA, def. Gloria-Rowe, Fresno St., 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.