USC, UCLA Reach Quarterfinals

Once Veronika Safarova got going, so did USC.

The Trojans, given a boost by Safarova’s come-from-behind victory, defeated Louisiana State, 5-2, on Thursday at Pepperdine to reach the round of eight in the NCAA Division I women’s tennis tournament for the second consecutive season.

The 12th-ranked Trojans (18-8) will play second-ranked Georgia, a 5-1 winner over South Alabama, at 11 a.m. today in the quarterfinals.

UCLA, playing in the last match of the day, overcame a loss by second-ranked Sara Walker in No. 1 singles to beat Texas, 5-2, and earn a shot at top-ranked Stanford, the defending champion. The Bruins (17-8) play the Cardinal (28-0) at 2 p.m.

Stanford defeated Northwestern, 5-1.

USC struggled early in its match against No. 32 LSU (14-11). Safarova, ranked 49th, lost in the first set, 6-3, against 80th-ranked Ana Paula Mores. But she rallied to win the next two, 6-2 and 6-1, to get a much-needed point for the Trojans.

“I didn’t play my game and I wasn’t warmed up,” said Safarova, a senior from the Czech Republic. “Finally, in the second and third sets, I knew what I had to do.”

As Safarova rallied, so did teammate Jewel Peterson in No. 3 singles. Peterson, ranked No. 17, won the first set, 7-6, after winning a tiebreaker against Fernanda Tsucamoto, 7-5, and then won the second set, 6-1.

“When Veronika was coming back and winning . . . and Jewel Peterson was winning the first-set tiebreaker, it sort of slowed [LSU’s] momentum,” USC Coach Richard Gallien said.

UCLA’s victory over Texas (24-6) was highlighted by Annica Cooper’s 7-6 (2), 7-5 victory over No. 28 Michelle Faucher. The Bruins’ No. 2 doubles team of Elizabeth Schmidt and Abigail Spears clinched the victory with an 8-5 win over Joanne Masongsong and Kaysie Smashey.