Granville Beats Teammate Irvin for Title

Stanford sophomore Marissa Irvin’s return to the NCAA Division I women’s tennis singles final produced the same result as last year--a loss.

This time Irvin lost to a teammate. Freshman Laura Granville won, 6-0, 6-4, Friday at Pepperdine.

Granville (47-3) lost only one set in six matches during the tournament. Despite wearing a wrap around her right leg because of a tender hamstring, Granville was more aggressive around the court, and had the greater poise during the match’s few big points.

“It’s really hard to play a teammate and a friend,” said Granville, who studied with Irvin in the team hotel Thursday night. “I wish it had been one of my archrivals. I know this is a hard loss for Marissa to take.”

Irvin (28-3), a Santa Monica native who was the Pacific 10 Conference player of the year and is a two-time All-American, was lucky to make a match of it at all. She had struggled during the week; on Friday she was undermined by a shaky service game (six double faults) and a balky backhand that Granville attacked repeatedly and forcefully.

In the doubles final, Claire Curran and Amy Jensen of California rallied to defeat Marissa Catlin and Christa Grey of Georgia, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.