The Oregon women’s tennis team fell 6-1 against top-ranked USC at the Oregon Outdoor Tennis Courts on Friday. But despite the home loss, it was a monumental day in the development of freshman Nia Rose.
Rose scored Oregon’s only point of the day and demonstrated that she could compete with the best after taking down the 11th-ranked player in the country, USC’s Giuliana Olmos, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 at the No. 1 singles position. Rose’s win over Olmos handed the junior her first loss in Pac-12 play.
“Nia performed well today and it’s a testament to her consistent hard work and determination,” Oregon head coach Alison Silverio said. “She can be proud of the way she handled herself mentally and believe in her abilities.”
Rose helped Oregon (8-6, 2-2 Pac-12) win the first set in three of the singles matches, but it was the Ducks’ only point of the day.
USC (15-2, 4-0 Pac-12) took an early lead during doubles play after Olmos and Meredith Xepoleas defeated Oregon’s Lina Akesson and Sofia Hager, 8-2 in the No. 3 spot. Shortly after, the 19th-ranked USC duo of Zoe Katz and Sabrina Santamaria defeated Oregon’s No. 1 team of Rose and Alyssa Tobita in similar fashion, 8-2, to clinch the doubles point.
The Trojans took an early 2-0 lead in singles action when Gabriella DiSimone beat Paloma Gomez 6-2, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.
Battling 2013 NCAA doubles champion Santamaria, Tobita fell 6-4, 6-3 at the No. 2 position.
USC clinched the match when Meredith Xepoleas, the 64th-ranked singles player, defeated Akesson 6-1, 6-3 at No. 5.
Oregon’s Marlou Kluiving was forced into a third set by USC’s Smith after winning the first set 6-3. Smith took the match 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 and handed Kluiving her first loss in singles play since Jan. 17, ending her 14-match winning streak.
The Ducks will host No. 4 UCLA this Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Final Results: 
Singles

1. Nia Rose (ORE) def. #11 Giuliana Olmos (USC) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
2. #20 Sabrina Santamaria (USC) def. Alyssa Tobita (ORE) 6-4, 6-3
3. #65 Gabby Smith (USC) def. Nicole Long (ORE) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0
4. #73 Madison Westby (USC) def. Marlou Kluiving (ORE) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
5. #64 Meredith Xepoleas (USC) def. Lina Åkesson (ORE) 6-1, 6-3
6. Gabriella DiSimone (USC) def. Paloma Gomez (ORE) 6-2, 6-1

Order of Finish: 6, 2, 5, 4, 3, 1
Doubles

1. #19 Katz/Santamaria (USC) def. Rose/Tobita (ORE) 8-2
2. Smith/Westby (USC) led Kluiving/Long (ORE) 7-5
3. Olmos/Xepoleas (USC) def. Åkesson/Hager 8-2

Order of Finish: 3, 1
Follow Sarah Scrivens on Twitter @sarahescrivens