ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The UC Santa Barbara Women's Tennis team finished off the ITA Kick-Off Weekend at the Varsity Tennis Center with a 4-0 loss to No. 8 Michigan. The Gauchos hold a 1-1 record against ranked opponents this season following yesterday's victory over No. 21 Vanderbilt. 

THE MATCH
Final: UC Santa Barbara 0, Michigan 4
Records: UC Santa Barbara (1-3), Michigan (2-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Lucy Lu and Lily Pradkin got momentum on the Gauchos' side early with a 2-0 lead in doubles. They would go game-for-game and break the Wolverines' serve to take a 6-1 victory. As the Gauchos hoped to inch closer to the doubles point, Amelia Honer and Marie Weissheim in the first position dropped their set 6-2. 

All eyes turned to Ali Benedetto and Emma Tutoveanu on court two who fell early but came back at 2-2 and battled to stay tied up at 4-4. The pairs would battle point-for-point with the Wolverines walking away just narrowly with a 6-4 win and the doubles point.

Michigan found their next two points in singles as Lily Pradkin and Marie Weissheim each fell in straight sets on courts six and two, respectively. The Wolverines looked for their last point as Ali Benedetto fought off multiple match points on court three but ultimately dropped the match 6-4, 6-2 as the Wolverines took the 4-0 victory.

Gauchos had strong performances on courts one, four and five prior to the Wolverines clinching the win. Amelia Honer came back in the first set to tie it up 5-5. She ultimately dropped the first 7-5 and left the second down 4-3. On court five, Emma Tutoveanu had a great showing in the first set as she tied it up 5-5. She took a sixth game but her opponent would force and win the tiebreak. They would leave the match unfinished with Tutoveanu down 4-1 in the second set. 

Tyra Richardson had another great performance for the Blue and Gold as she won the first set 6-1 and battled in an impressive comeback in the second set that was left tied up 5-5. 

RESULTS
Doubles
1. Jessica Bernales/Piper Charney (MICH-W) def. #9 Amelia Honer/Anna Weissheim (UCSB-W) 6-2
2. #49 Julia Fliegner/Reese Miller (MICH-W) def. Ali Benedetto/Emma Tutoveanu (UCSB-W) 6-4
3. Lucy Lu/Lily Pradkin (UCSB-W) def. Lily Jones/Emily Sartz-Lunde (MICH-W) 6-1

Order of finish: 3,1,2

Singles
1. #5 Julia Fliegner (MICH-W) vs. #16 Amelia Honer (UCSB-W) 7-5, 4-3, unfinished
2. #18 Piper Charney (MICH-W) def. Anna Weissheim (UCSB-W) 6-1, 6-3
3. #40 Lily Jones (MICH-W) def. Ali Benedetto (UCSB-W) 6-4, 6-2
4. Reese Miller (MICH-W) vs. Tyra Richardson (UCSB-W) 1-6, 5-5, unfinished
5. Emily Sartz-Lunde (MICH-W) vs. Emma Tutoveanu (UCSB-W) 7-6 (7-4), 4-1, unfinished
6. Jessica Bernales (MICH-W) def. Lily Pradkin (UCSB-W) 6-1, 6-2

Order of finish: 6,2,3

UP NEXT
The Gauchos will return to Santa Barbara as they host their first home match of the season on Feb. 9 at 10:30 a.m. against TCU. Live streaming will be made available here.