PROVO, Utah--In its first win over a ranked opponent this season, BYU women’s tennis upset No. 50 Denver in dominating fashion, 6-1, at the Indoor Tennis Courts Saturday.
“It was a great match for us,” BYU head coach Lauren Jones-Spencer said. “Being the underdogs in the match, it was really important for us to take them in doubles and start the momentum going our way. There were some tight matches -- but they stayed confident, played their game, and this is the win we’ve been looking for.”
The Cougars (2-3) won their second consecutive match with the victory over the Pioneers (2-4). It was their third match against a ranked opponent this season and their first win against a top-100 team since April 8, 2013, when they beat No. 70 Washington State, 4-3.
With the match score 3-0 in favor of BYU, senior Desiree Tran clinched the home victory with a comeback win against Kathryn Hughes, 1-6, 6-2, 7-5.
“The girls fought hard, it was a tough match -- there were some tight ones -- but they stayed confident, played their game and this is the win we’ve been looking for.”
Freshman Mayci Jones took care of Caroline Schnell in straight sets, 6-0, 6-3, in first singles. Sophomore Nicolette Tran followed with a victory of her own, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, against Sonja Radosevic.
Junior Meghan Sheehan-Dizon also overpowered her opponent, winning 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 against Maureen Slattery. Freshman Savannah Ware dominated at No. 6 singles by a score of 6-1, 6-0 while fresman Toby Miclat suffered the only setback of the day, falling to Evy Van Genechten, 6-2, 6-4.
Every doubles team came away with a win. Junior Morgan Anderson-Littlewood and sophomore Mackenna Maddox finished first, topping their opponents 8-3. Nicolette Tran and Jones earned a convincing victory as well by beating Schnell and Michell Garpenlov, 8-4.
Miclat and Sheehan-Dizon squeezed by Sonja Radosevic and Kathryn Hughes, 8-7 (8-6).
“I think this gives us confidence and momentum for Utah,” Jones-Spencer said. “Utah is going to be tough, but we’re the underdogs again, so we’re just going to go in there and play our game and take care of business.”
BYU is on the road against in-state rival No. 55 Utah in the Deseret First Duel match, Wednesday at 5 p.m. MST at Salt Lake City.
Tennis Match Results
Univ. of Denver-W vs Brigham Young University
Feb 15, 2014 at
Brigham Young University 6, #50 Univ. of Denver-W 1
Singles competition
1. JONES, Mayci (BYU) def. Caroline Schnell (DU-W) 6-0, 6-3
2. SHEEHAN-DIZON, Meg. (BYU) def. Maureen Slattery (DU-W) 7-5, 4-6, 6-2
3. TRAN, Nicolette (BYU) def. Sonja Radosevic (DU-W) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
4. TRAN, Desiree (BYU) def. Kathryn Hughes (DU-W) 1-6, 6-2, 7-5
5. Evy Van Genechten (DU-W) def. MICLAT, Toby (BYU) 6-2, 6-4
6. WARE, Savannah (BYU) def. Charlotte Derbyshire (DU-W) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. TRAN, Nicolette/JONES, Mayci (BYU) def. Caroline Schnell/Michelle Garpenlov (DU-W) 8-4
2. MICLAT, Toby/SHEEHAN-DIZON, Meg. (BYU) def. Sonja Radosevic/Kathryn Hughes (DU-W) 8-7 (8-6)
3. ANDERSON-LITTLEWOOD, Morgan/MADDOX, Mackenna (BYU) def. Maureen Slattery/Evy Van Genechten (DU-W) 8-3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (1,3,4,2,5,6)