SALT LAKE CITY—Behind a strong singles effort from Jeremy Bourgeois, the BYU men's tennis team handed an undefeated Utah its first loss of the season, beating the Utes 5-2 Saturday afternoon.
"I couldn't be more proud of my players and my coaching and support staff," BYU head coach Brad Pearce said. "Utah is a very good team, and their 11-0 record speaks to that. We knew it would be a battle (it always is), but I thought our preparation was excellent and we focused on the right things in the build up to this match."
The Cougars (9-1) got the match started by winning the doubles point. Jacob Sullivan and John Pearce quickly took care of Utah’s Dan Little and David Micevski, 6-2. Utah’s Matt Cowley and Jamey Swiggart defeated BYU’s Shane Monroe and Bourgeois, 6-2, to even the score, but Keaton Cullimore and Andrey Goryachkov won their match against the Utes’ Egbert Weverink and Santiago Sierra, 6-4, to clinch the point for the Cougars.
Utah (11-1) won the first singles point as Miceyski defeated Goryachkov in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. The Cougars pulled ahead in the match 3-1 with wins from Monroe in the No.1 singles spot and Sullivan in the No. 4 spot.
Pearce dropped his match in the No. 6 singles spot in three sets, 6-4, 6-7, 3-6, to Sierra, but Bourgeois’s 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 win over Utah’s Swiggart clinched the match for BYU.
Cullimore defeated Little 6-7, 7-6, 7-5 in the No. 2 spot to wrap up the match for the Cougars.
BYU returns home next weekend to open West Coast Conference play. The Cougars host Portland Friday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. MST and Gonzaga Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2:00 p.m. MST. Fans can follow the action by clicking here.
Tennis Match Results
BYU Men's Tennis vs Utah Feb 20, 2016
BYU Men's Tennis 5, Utah 2
Singles competition
1. MONROE, Shane (BYU) def. Matt Cowley (UTAH) 6-4, 6-4
2. CULLIMORE, Keaton (BYU) def. Dan Little (UTAH) 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-1), 7-5
3. David Micevski (UTAH) def. GORYACHKOV, Andrey (BYU) 6-2, 6-3
4. SULLIVAN, Jacob (BYU) def. Egbert Weverink (UTAH) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
5. BOURGEOIS, Jeremy (BYU) def. Jamey Swiggart (UTAH) 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-3
6. Santiago Sierra (UTAH) def. PEARCE, John (BYU) 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Matt Cowley/Jamey Swiggart (UTAH) def. BOURGEOIS, Jeremy/MONROE, Shane (BYU) 6-2
2. CULLIMORE, Keaton/GORYACHKOV, Andrey (BYU) def. Egbert Weverink/Santiago Sierra (UTAH) 6-4
3. PEARCE, John/SULLIVAN, Jacob (BYU) def. Dan Little/David Micevski (UTAH) 6-2
Match Notes:
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,1,4,6,5,2)
Additional Quote from Brad Pearce:
“This rivalry tennis match between BYU and Utah has been burned into my memory from watching my dad's team when I was a little boy. As a family, we experienced the thrill of victory when his team's won and the agony of defeat when they lost. I have great respect for this rivalry match; it's bigger than the players and the coaches, and it's great for the fan bases of both universities. It brings out great passion and energy and thus builds lasting memories for our student-athletes. I'm delighted that our rivalry match is going to continue. As far as our win today, I couldn't be more proud of my players and my coaching and support staff. Utah is a very good team, and their 11-0 record speaks to that. We knew it would be a battle (it always is), but I thought our preparation was excellent and we focused on the right things in the build up to this match. Nevertheless, the best game plan, at the end of the day, requires players to step up when it matters and play for the win. And that's exactly what they did. I could not be more proud of how they pulled through in big ways when the match was on the line and on their racquets. We're going to continue to focus on getting better as individuals and as a team because beating Utah was only one of our many goals, but it feels great putting a check in that box!”