Burdette leads Stanford to 13th national title

<p>Erin Burdette won the deciding match for Stanford for the second time in three years and the Cardinal earned the NCAA women's tennis championship Sunday with a 4-1 victory over UCLA.</p><p>Winning its third championship under fourth-year coach Lele Forood, Stanford (29-0) went unbeaten for the second time since 2001. Alice Barnes dominated Jackie Carleton in No. 2 singles for a 6-2, 6-1 victory over her Pac-10 rival.</p><p>The national title was Stanford's 13th.</p><p>Burdette led the final game 15-40 when her overhead smash down the left side was out of Fereil Essenghir's reach. The 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory in No. 3 singles occurred in front of several of Burdette's family members and friends from the junior's hometown of Jackson, Ga.</p><p>"It was a fairy tale ending to come back home, in a sense, with family and friends," Burdette said. "I didn't play as well as I wanted to, but we got it done."</p><p>As a freshman, Burdette beat Florida's Alexis Gordon in No. 4 singles to clinch the Cardinal's last national title.</p><p>Burdette and No. 1 partner Lauren Barnikow, playing their last team match, beat Daniela Bercek and Lauren Fisher 8-6 to clinch the doubles point for Stanford.</p><p>"There's certainly a lot of momentum going into the locker room when you do win the doubles point and you're up 1-0," Forood said after improving her career record to 111-3. "We knew, having played this team three times before, that they were not going to lay down or anything. "</p><p>Barnes and Amber Liu, the Cardinal's No. 2 doubles tandem, beat Carleton and Essenghir 8-3.</p><p>"We got some good leads in a couple of the doubles matches," Forood said. "It was pivotal to get the win in the second doubles match."</p><p>UCLA (21-8) earned a point at No. 4 singles as Sarah Gregg beat Barnikow 6-3, 6-3. After Barnes beat Carleton, the Bruins needed to win five of the six singles matches to earn their first national title.</p><p>Gregg gave them a chance, but Theresa Logar put UCLA behind 1-3 by beating Fisher 6-4, 6-3 in No. 4 singles.</p><p>"They have a lot of experienced players who've been here before, but I don't think my team was in awe or just satisfied with being here," Bruins coach Stella Sampras Webster said. "They really thought they could beat Stanford. That's why I'm really proud of my team. They weren't intimidated."</p><p>UCLA made its first appearance in the finals since 1991.</p><p>Stanford lost the national championship last year to Florida 4-3.</p><p>"Last year made you realize how special it is to win it," Barnikow said. "We had to wait two whole years to win it again. That makes you really, really appreciate it."</p><p>Liu, who won the NCAA individual singles championship last year, will begin defending her title Monday. The national doubles tournament gets underway Tuesday.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/5/168198