AUSTIN, TEXAS -- Southern California wrapped up a strong road win, taking out host No. 26 Texas with a 4-3 comeback that takes the Trojans to 9-2 overall on the year. The match was moved indoors due to inclement weather, and USC opened with some defensive muscle before the Longhorns made a move ahead in singles. The Trojans' response to a 3-2 deficit came in the form of a win at the No. 6 spot by Kaitlyn Christian and a court No. 3 victory from Zoë Scandalis with a clinching three-setter to send the Women of Troy home with an important win.
USC's doubles power shined through early as the Trojans' three ranked pairs all cruised through to victory. No. 26 Kaitlyn Christian/Sabrina Santamaria opened with an 8-3 win at the No. 1 spot before No. 8 Brynn Boren/Zoe Katz hauled in the first point on an 8-6 decision on court No. 2. Wrapping things up on a winning note was USC's No. 4 Giuliana Olmos/Zoe Scandalis at No. 3, and USC was through to singles with a 1-0 lead.
Santamaria would have to retire early from her No. 1 singles match, though, pulling out against Texas' No. 24 Breaunna Addison after taking a 1-0 lead. That leveled the match at 1-1, but USC's Gabriella DeSimone had Santamaria's back in cruising to a 6-1, 6-3 lead from court No. 5 against Lina Padegimaite. Next, however, it was the Longhorns' chance to tug into the lead. Texas scored points on courts Nos. 4 and 2, where Neda Koprcina topped Olmos and Elzabeth Begley beat out Boren, respectively. It took three sets to take down Boren, but Texas managed to take a 3-2 lead on that win to put pressure on the Trojans to fight back.
That they did. On court No. 6, Kaitlyn Christin breathed new life into the Trojan cause with her 6-4, 7-5 win against Lana Groenvynck to pull USC even again. That put the decider on court No. 3, where USC's Scandalis has turned the corner after her Texas opponent, Ratnika Batra, stole the first set on a tiebreaker. Scandalis would forge on and come through in the clutch, beating Batra 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 to win it all for the Women of Troy.
