Quick Read
- California (No. 22) faces Utah (No. 38) in the first round of the NCAA Championship this Friday.
- The winner of the matchup advances to the second round on Saturday to play either USC or Sacramento State.
- The Golden Bears are led by top-performing players Berta Passola Folch and Johanne Svendsen, both of whom earned All-ACC honors this season.
LOS ANGELES (Azat TV) – The No. 22 ranked California women’s tennis team is heading south to Los Angeles to begin its postseason campaign, facing No. 38 Utah in the opening round of the NCAA Championship this Friday. The dual match, scheduled for 11 a.m. PT at the Marks Tennis Stadium, marks a critical opportunity for the Golden Bears to advance through the USC Regional bracket.
NCAA Championship Tournament Stakes
Entering the tournament with a 12-7 season record, California faces a familiar opponent in 15-9 Utah. The regional field is highly competitive, featuring the host institution No. 12 USC and Sacramento State, who are set to play their own first-round match later on Friday. The winners of these two opening contests will meet on Saturday at noon to determine which team advances to the NCAA Super Regional round, scheduled for next week at a campus site yet to be determined.
Key Players and Recent Performance
The Golden Bears are entering the postseason bolstered by individual accolades, notably from senior All-American Berta Passola Folch and freshman Johanne Svendsen. Passola Folch, who reached the final of the NCAA Singles Championship earlier this season, joins Svendsen on the All-ACC Singles teams. Interim head coach Kris Kwinta, currently in his fifth season with the program, leads the squad into this matchup with a history of success, including a 13-1 all-time series lead against the Utes. The team’s depth has been a defining feature throughout 2026, with Svendsen maintaining an 8-2 record on Court 1 and Passola Folch posting a 7-1 mark on Court 2.
Regional Tournament Outlook
California’s recent history in the NCAA Championship includes two consecutive runs to the super regionals. Following the conclusion of the regional and super regional phases, the NCAA Championship will culminate in Athens, Georgia, on May 16-17 for the semifinals and final. While the team focuses on the immediate challenge against Utah, the tournament structure requires immediate momentum, as the condensed schedule leaves little room for error in the pursuit of a national title.
The Golden Bears’ ability to translate their regular-season court dominance into postseason success will be tested by the high-pressure environment of the USC Regional, where their experience in late-stage tournament play remains their most significant competitive advantage.