SALT LAKE CITY-- University of Utah women's tennis fell to the No. 14 California Golden Bears in a close 4-3 decision at home.

"Proud of the effort today. Alexia Petrovic, Jena Cheng, and first-semester freshman Whitney Turley competed very well on a big stage," said Head Coach Mat Iandolo. "This match shows we are capable of competing with the best teams in the country." 

In doubles competition, Luisa Gerstner Da Rosa and Alexia Petrovic got out to an early 3-0 lead over Stephane Lin and Maria Smith in the No. 3 spot and went on to win, 6-2. Taylor Calton and Jena Cheng fought back from behind to tie the match and take the lead, 5-3 before Olivia Hauger and Karla Popovic regained the lead 6-5. Cheng and Calton tied the match at 6-6, but Hauger and Popovic pulled out the win, 7-6 and clinched the doubles point for the Golden Bears.
 
To start singles competition, Petrovic fought back from an 0-3 deficit to tie the score at 3-3 and win the first set, 6-4. She dominated the second set, 6-1 for the win over Denisse Starr in the No. 3 spot. Cheng and Whitney Turley each added wins with 10-point tie-breakers. Cheng defeated Olivia Hauger, 6-1, 6-7, 11-9 while Turley defeated Maria Smith, 6-2, 5-7, 10-8.
 
Next up, the Utes travel to California for a pair of Pac-12 Conference matches. They face the No. 39 USC Trojans at 2:30 p.m. MT on Apr. 7 followed by the No. 20 UCLA Bruins at 2:30 p.m. MT on Apr. 8. The Utes will also face the Utah State Aggies in Logan at 2 p.m. on Apr. 11.
 
Doubles Competition (Order of finish:1, 3, 2)
Maegan Manasse/Denisse Starr def. B. Turley/W. Turley, 6-4
Olivia Hauger/Karla Popovic def. Calton/Cheng, 7-6
Gerstner Da Rosa/Petrovic def. Stephane Lin/Maria Smith, 6-2
 
Singles Competition (Order of finish: 3, 2, 6, 5, 4)
Maegan Manasse def. Pletcher, 6-3, 1-0 (default)
Karla Popovic def. B. Turley, 6-4, 6-4
Petrovic def. Denise Starr, 6-4, 6-1
Cheng def. Olivia Hauger, 6-1, 6-7, 11-9
W. Turley def. Maria Smith, 6-2, 5-7, 10-8
Stephane Lin def. Calton, 6-3, 6-4