STANFORD, Calif. - Two-time defending NCAA champion Stanford finished the 2020 campaign ranked No. 6 in the nation at 10-2 overall, completing fall competition and less than two months of dual match play before the season was shortened by the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The Cardinal, which was denied the opportunity to chase its first three-peat since 2004-06, split its opening weekend of Pac-12 play prior to concluding its season. Stanford's best result was a 4-3 victory over No. 10 Michigan during a semifinal showing at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships while both of its losses came against UCLA.
Three-Peat Will Have To Wait
After winning its last four NCAA titles as a No. 8 seed or lower, Stanford flexed its muscle as the No. 3 seed in 2019, routing top-seeded Georgia 4-0 to repeat as NCAA champions for the first time since winning three in a row from 2004-06.
The most decorated program in college history and the winningest program on The Farm, Stanford has incredibly won 20 of the possible 38 NCAA championships. The Cardinal, which was appearing in its fourth consecutive final, has won 21 national championships overall (20 NCAA, 1 AIAW).
Stanford is 1,045-106 all-time in 46 seasons of varsity competition. The Cardinal is also 155-19 all-time at NCAA Championships.
Rare Losses End Lengthy Streaks
Boosted by a top-five ranking and its best team in several years, UCLA finally cracked the code in 2020, handing Stanford both of its losses through 12 matches.
The Bruins blanked the Cardinal 4-0 in the semifinals of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships on Feb. 9. Stanford, which had held the upper hand with six consecutive wins in the series, suffered its first loss to UCLA since March 21, 2015, when the Bruins won 5-2 in Los Angeles. The Cardinal also was held scoreless in a match for the first time since Feb. 3, 2018, when Vanderbilt prevailed 7-0 in Nashville.
One month later, UCLA made an early statement in the Pac-12 race, defeating Stanford 4-1 at Taube Family Tennis Stadium. The Cardinal also had its 38-match conference winning streak snapped, losing to a Pac-12 opponent in the regular season for the first time since falling 4-3 at Arizona State back on March 5, 2016.
Stanford has now won 68 of its last 72 matches at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Lineup Was Taking Shape
Stanford entered 2020 having to offset the departures of
Caroline Lampl and
Melissa Lord, who departed The Farm with three NCAA championships, four Pac-12 titles and a 98-12 overall record.
The Cardinal's lineup was starting to take shape, led by
Michaela Gordon, who held down the No. 1 singles spot for the third consecutive season. Ranked No. 12 nationally, Gordon tied for the team lead in victories at 19-5 overall while finishing 4-3 in duals. Named an ITA All-American in singles, Gordon captured singles titles at the ITA Northwest Regional Championships and Freeman Memorial Championships, increasing her career total to four.
Ranked No. 121 nationally,
Emily Arbuthnott (11-6 overall, 7-3 duals) notched her 100th career singles win during Stanford's 7-0 shutout of Saint Mary's on March 3, defeating Jordan Harris 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 2 spot. Of Arbuthnott's 101 career wins, 30 have been match clinchers and 10 have come during NCAA team competition.
Ranked No. 117 nationally,
Angelica Blake (14-2 overall, 7-1 duals) was putting together an impressive rookie season. Blake won seven in a row to open the season, including a singles title at the Saint Mary's Invitational in her collegiate debut. Blake anchored the No. 3 position, defeating UCLA's No. 17 Jada Hart 6-0, 6-4 on March 7 for her highest-ranked win.
The back half of the lineup was dependable once again, with
Janice Shin (13-9 overall, 4-4 duals) and
Emma Higuchi (9-2 overall, 8-1 duals) providing a veteran presence. The Cardinal received notable production from
Sara Choy (19-5 overall, 9-2 duals), who shared the team lead in victories one year after appearing in only three dual matches.
In doubles, Arbuthnott and Blake ranked No. 19 nationally and comprised Stanford's top team at 12-4 overall and 7-2 in duals.
Honor Roll
Senior Emily Arbuthnott
ITA Northwest Region Most Improved Senior
ITA Northwest Regional Championship doubles champion (with Angelica Blake)
CoSIDA Academic All-District
Pac-12 All-Academic Honor Roll
Freshman Angelica Blake
ITA Northwest Regional Championship doubles champion (with Emily Arbuthnott)
Saint Mary's Invitational singles champion
Sophomore Sara Choy
Pac-12 All-Academic Honor Roll
Junior Michaela Gordon
ITA All-American (singles)
Pac-12 Player of the Week (Jan. 21)
ITA Northwest Regional Championship singles champion
Freeman Memorial Championships singles champion
Pac-12 All-Academic Honor Roll
Senior Emma Higuchi
ITA Northwest Region Cissie Leary Sportsmanship Award
Pac-12 All-Academic Honor Roll
Junior Taylor Lallas
Pac-12 All-Academic Honor Roll
Sophomore Niluka Madurawe
SDSU Fall Classic II doubles champion (with Nicole Mossmer)
Freshman Nicole Mossmer
SDSU Fall Classic II doubles champion (with Niluka Madurawe)
Junior Janice Shin
Pac-12 All-Academic Honor Roll
