STANFORD, Calif. - The most storied program in women's college tennis, Stanford (18-6, 7-3 Pac-12) reached the NCAA quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season in 2014-15.
Seeded No. 14 in the NCAA Championships draw, Stanford upset No. 3 California in the round of 16 and despite falling 4-1 to No. 6 Georgia in the quarterfinals, Stanford has now won 10 of its last 12 NCAA duals when seeded lower than its opponent. The Cardinal has entered NCAA’s seeded higher than fifth only once (No. 1 in 2011) over the last seven years. But Stanford won the 2010 NCAA championship as the No. 8 seed and two years ago became the lowest-seeded team at No. 12 to win an NCAA title.
The Cardinal, which placed fourth in the Pac-12 and was ranked between No. 7-14 in the country throughout the season, was seeking its third straight semifinal appearance.
How dominant has Stanford, winner of 18 national championships (17 NCAA, 1 AIAW), been recently? The Cardinal’s six losses in 2014-15 were its most since a 20-6 finish back in 1983.
Meanwhile, four of Stanford’s six lineup regulars – sophomore Taylor Davidson, sophomore Caroline Doyle, senior Ellen Tsay and sophomore Carol Zhao – were named ITA All-Americans. Zhao was the NCAA Singles Championship runner-up, falling one step short of becoming Stanford’s first champion since Nicole Gibbs in 2013.
Zhao led the squad with a 35-5 overall record and was 21-2 in duals, playing all of her matches at the No. 1 spot. Zhao finished 22-3 against nationally-ranked opponents and captured the ITA Northwest Regional Championships singles title in October. Taylor Davidson (29-9 overall, 18-3 duals) and Caroline Doyle (29-7 overall, 18-3 duals) were close behind, followed by Ellen Tsay (24-9 overall, 18-5 duals).
Five members of Stanford’s singles lineup earned final ITA national rankings: Zhao (2), Davidson (22), Doyle (29), Krista Hardebeck (93) and Tsay (117).
Doubles proved to be a strength for Stanford throughout the year, with the Cardinal dropping the doubles point only six times. Davidson and Zhao (34-8 overall, 16-5 duals) were tabbed the Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year, earning Stanford’s first honor since Alice Barnes and Anne Yelsey were recognized as the Pac-10’s top duo in 2006. Davidson and Zhao pocketed two titles on the season, winning the Pac-12 Championships crown in April and the NCTC Classic championship in January while earning a final national ranking of No. 2.
Doyle and Tsay (31-9 overall, 15-5 duals), who won the Freeman Invitational Championships title in January, also advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Championships. Stanford’s No. 2 doubles team, Doyle and Tsay finished the year ranked No. 8 nationally.
Competing in her first full season in the lineup, Lindsey Kostas contributed six victories overall and five in dual-match play. Walk-ons Montana Morgan, Isabel Prado, Nora Tan and Paulette Wolak provided depth to Stanford’s short-handed roster, with Wolak and Tan coming away with the most experience.
Sophomore Taylor Davidson
ITA All-American (doubles)
All-Pac-12 First Team
Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year
Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention
ITA Collegiate All-Star Team selection (doubles)
Sophomore Caroline Doyle
ITA All-American (doubles)
All-Pac-12 Second Team
ITA Scholar-Athlete
Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team
Junior Krista Hardebeck
ITA Scholar-Athlete
Pac-12 All-Academic First Team
Junior Lindsey Kostas
ITA Scholar-Athlete
Pac-12 All-Academic First Team
Senior Ellen Tsay
ITA All-American (doubles)
ITA Scholar-Athlete
NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient
Pac-12 All-Academic First Team
Sophomore Carol Zhao
ITA All-American (singles, doubles)
NCAA Singles runner-up
ITA Northwest Region Player to Watch
All-Pac-12 First Team
Pac-12 Doubles Team of the Year
ITA Scholar-Athlete
Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team
Block S Sophomore award
ITA Collegiate All-Star Team selection (doubles)