NCAA WOMEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS : UCLA’s Phebus Fights Way Into Two Finals

After playing two three-set matches at the NCAA Division I women’s tennis championships on Friday, including one match that lasted more than three hours, Keri Phebus of UCLA began her day Saturday as concerned about her fitness and energy reserves as she was about her fourth-ranked opponent, Jill Craybas of Florida.

As is typical of most of Phebus’ matches, it was not easy, but she won, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2, to advance to the singles final for the second consecutive year. She lost last year to Angela Lettiere of Georgia.

In today’s final, which begins at noon at Pepperdine’s Ralphs-Straus Tennis Center, Phebus will play top-seeded Kelly Pace of Texas, who had little trouble defeating Stacy Sheppard of Georgia, 6-1, 6-3.

Later Saturday, Phebus teamed with Susie Starrett to advance to the doubles final. The UCLA pair defeated Georgia’s Sheppard and Tina Samara, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2, and will play Cristine Moros and Kelly Pace of Texas in the championship match.

Moros and Pace beat California’s Keirsten Alley and Pam Nelson, 6-4, 6-3, in the other semifinal.

In singles, meanwhile, Craybas’ inventive shotmaking and frequent lobs positioned her for a possible upset of Phebus, a notoriously slow starter. Craybas broke her in the fourth and sixth games of the first set and controlled the tempo.

The strength of Phebus’ game is her serve. When it’s on, she can master excellent placement and pace. When it’s not, even the ball toss is a risky maneuver.

“When I’m tight, you know I’m tight because of my serve.” Phebus said. “My serve was there, I just had to keep going after it.”

The UCLA junior began to wrest control of the match in the second set, breaking Craybas’ serve in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. But Phebus had not completely sorted out her serve--she opened the fifth game with a double fault and committed another one six points later. She staved off two break points to hold at 5-2, then broke Craybas to win the second set.

Phebus double faulted to begin the third set on an inauspicious note and continued to serve shakily, allowing Craybas the opening to break serve. Phebus then displayed the fighting spirit that has become her trademark. With Craybas’ serving at game point in the second game, Phebus clawed her way back. She broke Craybas to even the games as 1-1, then broke again in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Phebus held four match points against Craybas in the seventh game and then was able to break to win the match. On match point, Craybas pushed a forehand wide.

After watching her lead erode, Craybas knew that a Phebus comeback was inevitable.

“The second and third sets were very similar,” Craybas said. “She just took control more than I did. I should have been ready for her to start pounding the ball.”